Galapagos Poacher Busted

At approximately 23:40 on the night of December 28, 2003, a coordinated raid by the Galapagos National Park Rangers and the National Police resulted in the arrest of Mr. Lenin Sanchez at his home on San Cristobal Island.

The rangers and the police seized 15,933 sea cucumbers, and two firearms and ammunition. The sea-cucumbers were in 12 plastic containers weighing in total 765 pounds.

Mr. Sanchez is being held by the police on charges of illegal possession of firearms as the investigation into his poaching activities continues.

The poaching of sea-cucumbers in the Galapagos is a serious matter and the National Park has been struggling for years to deter these poaching activities.

Fishermen in the Galapagos can make $1 per sea-cucumber. The boiled and preserved creatures are then shipped to Asia where they sell for much higher prices.

The Sea Shepherd patrol boat Sirenian is an important part of the program to control poaching operations in the Galapagos.

Siezed firearms from raid on Sanchez House

A pile of confiscated sea cucumbers

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