14/03/2005 - Marc Langlois,
53, a resident of the city of Lévis,
Québec, pleaded guilty in the Court
of Québec, Criminal and Penal Chamber,
to 45 charges relating to the purchase, sale
and possession of black bear gall bladders
for the purpose of illegal interprovincial
trade. He was sentenced to pay of $47,456
in fines and court costs. This amount represents
one of the highest fines ever imposed in Canada
regarding possession of bear parts.
Marc Langlois was found guilty of the poaching
related activities following interventions
carried out under Operation América.
On November 20, 2002, wildlife officers from
Environment Canada and the Ministère
des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune du
Québec executed search warrants at
Mr. Langlois’ residence and workplace.
Federal and Provincial Charges
Marc Langlois was charged with 25 counts
under section 8(b) of the federal Wild Animal
and Plant Protection and Regulation of International
and Interprovincial Trade Act. He was found
guilty of possessing black bear gall bladders
for trafficking purposes between February
2001 and November 2002.
The individual was also found guilty, under
the provincial Act Respecting the Conservation
and Development of Wildlife, of 20 charges
relating to the purchase or sale of black
bear gall bladders.
Operation America
Carried out between 2001 and 2003, Operation
América targeted the poaching and illicit
trade of black bear parts and other game.
On November 20, 2002, search warrants were
carried out in over 60 locations in Québec,
Ontario, Alberta and the United States. Over
200 officers from the Ministère des
Ressources naturelles et de la Faune du Québec,
Environment Canada (Canadian Wildlife Service),
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and
the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
took part in the operation.
To this day, some 56 individuals have already
been sentenced to fines totalling $267,167
for infractions under Québec provincial
law while 3 persons were ordered to pay $68,254
in fines for contraventions of federal law.
Adding the sentence levied against Marc Langlois,
the total amount of fines resulting from Operation
América has reached $382,921 including
court costs. Various goods including meat,
weapons and vehicles were also confiscated.
Black Bear Gall Bladders
Black bear gall bladders are used as an ingredient
in traditional Asian medicine.
Canada has the largest black bear habitat
in the world. The illegal trade of black bear
parts places ever increasing pressure on populations
of this species. It is important to note that
the black bear is protected by the Convention
on the International Trade in Endangered Species
of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Environment
Canada is the federal department responsible
for the coordination of CITES in Canada. In
Québec, the management and protection
of bear and its habitats is carried out by
the Ministère des Ressources naturelles
et de la Faune.
It is also important to note that the success
of Operation América is the result
of close cooperation between wildlife officers
from the governments of Canada and Québec,
working with the goal of fighting crime and
preserving the environment and wildlife resources
for future generations.
The population is invited to report poaching
activity or other act that may go against
wildlife or habitat protection by calling
the S.O.S. Poaching line toll free at
1-800-463-2191 or Environment Canada at 1-800-463-4311.
These services are free and confidential.
