Happy Valley - Goose Bay resident charged for trafficking in big game antlers

Officials from the Department of Forest Resources and Agrifoods have laid a total of 88 charges against a 38-year-old Happy Valley-Goose Bay man for trafficking and attempting to traffic in big game antlers. The alleged offences occurred on the E-Bay Web site. Sixty-two of the charges are for trafficking and 26 are for attempting to traffic.

The charges result from a four-month investigation conducted by the department�s legislation and compliance division and the district office in North West River.

If convicted, penalties for these types of offences carry a maximum fine of $5,000 for each offence and or imprisonment for up to six months. The Happy Valley-Goose Bay man is scheduled to appear in Provincial Court on April 2 .

Conservation officers are also conducting investigations into similar offences of selling antlers through E-Bay in other areas of the province. The investigations follow charges laid late last year against two individuals for alleged offences for trafficking in big game antlers on the Northern Peninsula.

Media contact: Sonia B. Glover, Communications Director, (709) 729-6183, or Jim Maloney, Chief of Special Investigations, (709) 637-2053 or 632-0198.

2003 02 14                                         3:10 p.m.