114 Operation “Root Of All Evil” With Kirk Kiefer

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114 Operation “Root of All Evil” with Kirk Kiefer – Ohio

11M ago 54:12

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Kirk Kiefer has been a wildlife investigator with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for the past 15 years. In this episode, he walks us through Operation “Root of All Evil,” a lengthy and complex investigation into the illegal ginseng trade that spanned multiple states, included unmarked vehicles, extended surveillance, buys and sales by undercover officers, and even a fake business.

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Here’s what we discuss:

· Wild ginseng root is highly valued for its perceived medicinal properties

· Grows very slowly, taking up to five years to reach maturity

· One pound can be worth up to $1000

· Seeds take over a year to germinate

· Information campaign helped educate stakeholders on the damage caused by poaching

· Many poachers are involved in other illegal activities

· Legal ginseng plants must have three leaf sets, or ‘prongs’

· Case also had multiple prongs

· Prong 1: Undercover officers sold ginseng to licensed dealers

· Compared the amount sold to the amount reported

· Officers then sold ginseng outside the buying season to confirm illegal intent

· Prong 2: Coordinated with US Fish & Wildlife Service to create a fake business

· Business would receive inquiries from those looking to buy and sell illegal product

· Prong 3: Obtain offenders’ assistance in exchange for a reduced penalty

· Task force worked in multiple states

· One offender had been featured on a popular reality show

· The television show actually helped educate the public about ginseng poaching

· Many countries overseas have decimated indigenous flora and fauna, creating a black market

· 110 defendants received multiple charges

· Nearly six years of jail time served, $77,000 in fines

· Kirk’s background; jack of all trades

· Trapping academy

· State officers were made aware of the ginseng operation

· “Giving a little bit, we received a lot.”

· Not all states have Wildlife Investigators

· State of Ohio has done some major operations

· Ginseng awareness for stakeholders training began in 2015

· Operation takedown day finally arrived in 2022

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Art & Design: Ashley Hannett

Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

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