Page 43 - 2021 JAN/FEB Outdoor Oklahoma Magazine

karliN Bailey/oDWC

Game Warden Carlos Gomez prepares a cargo of seized turtles in plastic
boxes for transport after he and two other Game Wardens spent hours
investigating, interrogating and collecting evidence.

area and thought he might have a head-start in dealing CarloS GomeZ/oDWC
with this unusual situation.
There had been instances of crudely taped-up and per-
forated boxes containing live box turtles being shipped
via common parcel carriers in recent months. Vigilant
cargo handlers had realized something wasn’t right and
had called Gomez to investigate. But, carefully scripted
recipient information allowed wardens to only trace the
cargo back to the turtle senders: the “small fish.” No crit-
ical information could be recovered that would implicate
the interstate buyers behind these commercial-sized wild-
life traffickers. So, the “big fish” would remain anonymous
simply by using low-level people to retrieve the living cargo
from big-city shipping hubs.
Within an hour of arriving at the Mannford motel, the two
Game Wardens were joined by a third, supervising Lt. Jamie
Cole, based in Pawnee County. The three quickly formed a
plan, backed away from the motel, and waited. When the ten-
ants finally arrived back at their rooms, the Game Wardens
moved in. Suspects were read their Miranda warning rights
and interrogated. Having been caught so red-handed likely
contributed to their cooperation as voluntary consent state-
ments and searches were obtained. That information provid-
ed a trove of vital documents and digital information.
Cole maintained a perimeter allowing Bailey and Gomez
to safely move about searching, documenting, and seizing More than 200 turtles were rescued from their cramped boxes held by
evidence. After several hours, more than 200 turtles and traffickers in Mannford just a day before they were to be shipped to New
Jersey. Game Warden Carlos Gomez’s family jumped in to secure food
critical commercial-trafficking details — including a direct and supervision for the crawling cargo until they could become a part of
line to the suspected interstate kingpin — was gathered. the sting operation.

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