DFG News Archive

Joint Federal/State Operation Nets Conviction and $230,000 in Fines in California’s Largest Snakehead Smuggling Case

A joint snakehead smuggling investigation by the Special Operations Unit of the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has resulted in a landmark settlement. Nearly $230,000 in total fines and penalties have been imposed against Daniel Rhee, 46, of Sherman Oaks, and his Los Angeles supermarket for unlawful possession and sale of live snakehead fish in California.

The case is the most significant ever in California involving the highly controversial and predatory snakehead fish. Often dubbed “Frankenfish,” because of their monster-like qualities, snakeheads have the unique ability to live out of water for up to three days, and are able to slither across land. With the ability to reach a length of 3 feet and a weight of 12 pounds, they are a prohibited species with the potential to jeopardize California’s aquatic resources if wild populations became established, according to Dennis Lee, a DFG fisheries biologist.

Snakeheads are native to Asia and have reproduced in significant numbers in the Potomac River and other locations throughout the East Coast. In 2002, Interior Secretary Gale Norton likened snakeheads to “something from a bad horror movie” before the Bush Administration proposed banning imports and trade across state lines.

“Any nonnative fish species that becomes established will compete with native and desirable introduced species for food and habitat,” Lee said. “The predatory behavior of the northern snakehead has the potential to alter food webs and change the ecological balance of existing systems. The number and diversity of many native and desirable introduced species could be inalterably reduced if snakeheads become established in California.”

The Rhee investigation began in April 2003 as a result of information provided by an informant. Investigators found that live snakehead fish were being smuggled as cargo aboard passenger airlines that were bound for Los Angeles from Seoul, Korea. The cargo was falsely labeled as “sea bass” or “fresh water bass” among seafood shipments. Covert operations determined live snakehead fish were being sold weekly at Assi Super Inc., a Los Angeles supermarket. A search warrant served on the business in July 2003 turned up snakehead fish for sale as well as records showing that the market had imported about $25,000 worth of live snakehead per year starting in 2002.

The state case settled on July 13, 2004 through the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office. Rhee and Assi Super Inc., each pleaded guilty to four misdemeanor counts of unlawful possession of prohibited species. Rhee was placed on 36 months probation and in lieu of a jail sentence was ordered 30 days of CalTrans work service. Fines, penalties, and restitution at that time totaled $29,531.

Sentences on federal charges in the case were handed down on Monday, Jan. 24. Assi Super Inc., pleaded guilty to seven felony violations of unlawful smuggling of wildlife and unlawful commercialization of smuggled wildlife. Rhee pleaded guilty to three additional misdemeanor violations for illegally importing injurious wildlife. Fines levied in this portion of the case totaled $200,000. In addition to the $100,000 in federal fines, the ruling provided for a $50,000 payment to DFG and $50,000 to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

“This case is a prime example of federal, state, county, and city agencies joining together to protect our state’s aquatic resources,” said Warden Todd Tognazzini, DFG’s lead investigator on the case. “The success of this case is a direct result of the cooperative efforts of the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office, Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Attorney’s Office, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. We all recognized the ecological threat posed by this illegal activity.”