A couple of palmetto poachers have been arrested after stealing 800 pounds of palmetto berries in Plant City, Florida. Two months ago there was a new regulation that went into effect making harsher penalties for saw palmetto poachers. Apparently, this has been a big issue in the area and they finally changed it that those people would be punished much harder. Now a couple accused of stealing palmetto berries are behind bars after they stole 800 pounds.

Couple Arrested For Stealing 800 Lbs. Of Palmetto Berries:

One property owner has been dealing with this theft for a while and gave law enforcement a photo of the suspected thieves’ vehicle. That led police to their Plant City home to be arrested for the hefty theft. In the state of Florida it is a third-degree felony to take saw palmetto berries without permission. As of now, it can also land you in prison for five years for the theft.  Many of these berries are often sold or even shipped off to China.

These palmetto berries normally sell for 75 cents a pound but can sometimes go for $3.50 a pound. Most of the time these thieves sell them to roadside to make extra cash however some of the berry’s head down to Immokalee and then are shipped to China for processing. According to FoxNews13, Ken Gioeli, who isa natural resources agent for the University of Florida’s IFAS Extension, said, “They’re used in the medical field and people can buy supplements, and it treats a number of different ailments. One of them is enlarged prostate and prostate issues, so it can help people with medical problems.” If these poachers illegally pick in these natural areas and trespass, there’s no way for the plants themselves to regenerate so our wildlife suffers. The couple has finally been arrested after stealing over 800 pounds.