Outraged!!!

[jtbadco]

Hey Gang,...get this. One of our LFS owners (SWC) has been convicted of illegal smuggling of corals, inverts, and LR.


http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/loc...135339543.html

This person is unfortunately one of the sponsors of our local forum and we are trying to have him removed.

We tried posting our opinions on our local forum but as usual the monkeys that run it shut down any conversation that isn't about kittens and sunshine. One of the other members there actually had the nerve to say that we shouldn't pass judgement because everyone breaks the law a little?!? As if going 5 miles over the speed limit compares to raping the environment. I would never say that I am a perfect law abiding citizen, but if I get caught speeding, I pay the ticket.

As far as I'm concerned they should throw the book at him. Maybe a $1M fine and a couple years in jail will teach him a lesson. If we tolerate operators like him it will eventually destroy the hobby.

[Myka]

This is old news. This happened in 2007. He basically didn't get his CITES permits in place for import which is then considered smuggling. I see he was finally convicted...that took forever.

[jtbadco]

He was caught in 2007. He was convicted last week. He will be sentenced later this year.

My main objection is that he is allowed to stay in business.

[fishytime]

not surprising......have heard of others

[Myka]

Originally Posted by fishytime

...have heard of others

Heh, yep.

I really should quit suggesting that people buy SWC skimmers though. I feel torn. They are a good skimmer for the price, and I like people to be able to afford their hobby and still have success, but then I don't like it when people operate illegally because it damages our hobby. Now that he has actually been convicted I just decided...no more SWC compliments from me.

[jtbadco]

I've heard of it before too. Just never with a local store

[Zoaelite]

Daeninck fought his case at trial, claiming he had actually ordered another type of rock which didn’t contain coral for the purpose of building a fence in Winnipeg, like one he’d seen on a visit to Indonesia. Daeninck claimed there must have been a mistake in the order and that he wasn’t responsible.

Wooowww, real good excuse on that one! Seems totally logical to import 20000lbs of rock from across the world when you live next to a burnco... DERPPPPP.

[jtbadco]

I know,...how stupid does he think people are?

[lastlight]

How did I miss this?!

And this is the same guy that was told to stop selling his stolen aiptasia zapper idea? Ouch.

[Casey8]

Thanks for this posting, I HATE smugglers I was thinking of buying a used/new SCW skimmer, but now this one is definetely is off my list.