Criminal
The Butterfly Smuggler
Feb 21, 2025
Ed Newcomer, a former special agent for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, shares tales from his gripping undercover work against butterfly smuggling. He reveals a world where rare butterflies are worth a fortune in the collector's market. The conversation highlights the intricacies of maintaining a cover, navigating the illegal trade, and the shocking emotional complexity that arises in relationships intertwined with crime. Newcomer also delves into unexpected encounters at bug fairs and the evolving nature of wildlife trafficking.
35:13
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Quick takeaways
- Yoshi Kojima cleverly exploited the rare butterfly trade by using deceptive shipping techniques to evade customs and sell endangered species.
- Undercover agent Ed Newcomer's intricate methods to gain Kojima's trust ultimately culminated in a successful operation that halted illegal butterfly smuggling.
Deep dives
The Unusual World of Butterfly Smuggling
Yoshi Kojima exploited the lucrative market for rare butterflies by illegally collecting and selling them from national parks across the U.S. He discreetly shipped these butterflies, often using techniques to conceal their identity from customs officials. By pinning the butterflies in envelopes with their wings folded, he could mislead inspectors, as the colors and patterns crucial for identification were not visible. This process allowed Kojima to sell endangered species for exorbitant prices, sometimes fetching up to $10,000 per butterfly, making the illegal butterfly trade a surprisingly high-stakes endeavor.
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