Officials: Stolen California succulents, smuggled to Asia

By: The Associated Press

Monday, April 23, 2018 3:05 PM

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) State wildlife officials say they uncovered an international plant heist involving thieves from Korea and China slipping into Northern California's wild landscapes to pluck succulents they then sell in a thriving black market in Asia.

The Mercury News in San Jose, California, reports the stolen succulents called Dudleya farinosa fetch up to $50 per plant in Asia, where a growing middle class is fueling demand.

Investigators say organized smuggling rings based in Asia are behind the thefts.

Since an investigation started in December, state officials have nabbed suspects from China and Korea in three separate thefts along the Humboldt and Mendocino coast.

Admired for their tenacity, the plants burst into beauty when they bloom, erecting a tall stem and a candelabra-like cluster of yellow flowers.

Officials: Stolen California succulents, smuggled to Asia

In this April 17, 2018 photo provided by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, wildlife officer Will Castillo replants a Dudleya in Humboldt County, Calif. State wildlife officials say they have uncovered an international plant heist involving thieves from Korea and China who are slipping into Northern California's wild landscapes to pluck succulents they then sell in a thriving black market in Asia. The Mercury News in San Jose, Calif., reports the stolen succulents called Dudleya farinose fetch up to $50 per plant in Asia, where a growing middle class is fueling demand. (Travis Van Zant/California Department of Fish and Wildlife via AP)

The Associated Press

In this March 2018 photo provided by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, wildlife officer Pat Freeling replants a Dudleya in Mendocino County, Calif. State wildlife officials say they have uncovered an international plant heist involving thieves from Korea and China who are slipping into Northern California's wild landscapes to pluck succulents they then sell in a thriving black market in Asia. The Mercury News in San Jose, Calif., reports the stolen succulents called Dudleya farinose fetch up to $50 per plant in Asia, where a growing middle class is fueling demand. Investigators say organized smuggling rings based in Asia are behind the thefts. (Travis VanZant/California Department of Fish and Wildlife via AP)

The Associated Press

In this April 17, 2018 photo provided by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, wildlife officer Will Castillo holds a Dudleya before replanting it in Humboldt County, Calif. State wildlife officials say they have uncovered an international plant heist involving thieves from Korea and China who are slipping into Northern California's wild landscapes to pluck succulents they then sell in a thriving black market in Asia. The Mercury News in San Jose, Calif., reports the stolen succulents called Dudleya farinose fetch up to $50 per plant in Asia, where a growing middle class is fueling demand. (Travis Van Zant/California Department of Fish and Wildlife via AP)

The Associated Press