A Massachusetts man has pleaded guilty to smuggling the remains of endangered animals into the United States and selling them for profit. His illegal trade included skulls, tusks, claws, and skins from leopards, tigers, orangutans, polar bears, baboons, elephants, narwhals, and many other protected species.

From 2018 to 2021, Adam Bied operated an online wildlife trafficking ring using shipments from Cameroon and Indonesia. He disguised the contents, lied about their origins, and sold them to buyers across the country. He had no permits, no licenses, and no concern for the brutal methods used to obtain these remains.

This case is not unique. The United States remains one of the largest markets for illegal and exotic wildlife parts. While the Lacey Act and other federal laws are vital tools in this fight, they have not kept pace with the growing sophistication of smugglers.

We are calling on the United States Congress, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Department of Justice to take immediate action by:

• Increasing maximum penalties under the Lacey Act for trafficking involving endangered species
• Expanding funding for wildlife inspectors, customs officials, and undercover investigations
• Requiring greater coordination between international shipping carriers and customs agents to flag illegal wildlife imports
• Closing legal loopholes that allow traffickers to claim wildlife parts are "antique" or "for educational use" to evade scrutiny

The animals killed for this trade are not trophies or collectibles. They are members of endangered species already struggling to survive due to habitat loss, climate change, and poaching.

This is a crisis we can stop. But it requires stronger laws, more resources, and a clear commitment from our leaders.

Sign this petition to demand stronger protections against wildlife trafficking and help end the illegal trade in endangered species.