Man stole 1,800 Florida turtles to sell in Asia pet trade, Feds say

The arrest is part of a larger law enforcement operation called “Southern Hot Herps” targeting turtle poachers. Freshwater turtles are highly coveted in Asia’s pet trade, where they are seen as symbols of prosperity. Federal authorities say a man facing charges related to the theft of more than 1,800 wild turtles from Florida streams went so far as to buy a van, a boat and a heated wetsuit to steal the freshwater reptiles. Albert Bazaar, of Louisiana, was arrested after being named in an April 28 indictment filed in the Northern District of California that says he collected and sold…