[meteorite-list] Dinosaur egg smuggler fined

From: joseph_town_at_att.net <joseph_town_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Mar 16 18:08:30 2006
Message-ID: <031620060312.11691.4418D7AA00041B8300002DAB21603760210299019BA1089F0A9C0106_at_att.net>

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/dinosaur-egg-smuggler-fined/2006/03/16/1142098571108.html


Illegally exported dinosaur eggs.


March 16, 2006 - 11:54AM


An Australian mineral dealer who pleaded guilty to smuggling fossilised dinosaur eggs from China to the United States flies home tonight.

Tamas "Thomas" Kapitany, 45, will spend a year on criminal probation and was fined $27,175 in a plea bargain made to avoid trial, US authorities say.

Kapitany operates Crystal World in Melbourne, described on its website as carrying Australia's largest range of mineral, meteorite and fossil specimens.

Crystal World was open for business today, but Kapitany's daughter, Rachael, would not comment on the case.

She said Kapitany would speak about the incident tomorrow after his return to Melbourne.

"I'm not prepared to comment other than to say Thomas Kapitany is due back in the country tomorrow and as far as I'm aware everything has been sorted out," she said,

Kapitany also agreed to forfeit fossils seized by US investigators, according to Tammy Wilson of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

"These prehistoric treasures rightfully belong to China and the Chinese people," said David Nehls, assistant special agent in charge for ICE investigations at Los Angeles International Airport.

"It is shameful that someone would plunder specimens like this from another nation simply to pleasure hobbyists and line their own pockets."

US officials will coordinate with Chinese authorities to determine what to do with the fossils, according to ICE.

Starting as far back as 1999, Kapitany snuck eggs, which are deemed protected relics under Chinese law, from eastern China to California by labelling them minerals or geological specimens, prosecutors said.

Kapitany smuggled the eggs in through airports in the southern California cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, according to Wilson.

Federal agents seized more than 140 boxes of smuggled eggs from a warehouse in the city of El Cajon.

The plea came just weeks after ICE agents raided a gem and fossil show in Tucson, Arizona, and confiscated almost eight tons of rare fossils including dinosaur eggs and prehistoric pinecones evidently smuggled out of Argentina.

The fossils were being sold by Argentina-based vendor Rhodo Company.

That ICE investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been made.

A statement posted on the Crystal World website headed "A day in the life of a fossil dealer" describes a raid on its properties by Australian Federal Government agents.

"The Department of Movable Cultural Heritage upon requests from the Chinese and Argentine governments have decided to seize all fossils belonging to these countries, even though dealers and collectors have [been] importing specimens for over 30 years to my knowledge," it said.

It went on: "There is obviously a need for control and legislation to protect and preserve important sites.

"The stolen dinosaur footprints from Western Australia obviously highlight this.

"I believe that it is important to have enforcement and controls in place so long that it is done rationally, without intimidation and harassment, which at the moment is not the case."
Received on Wed 15 Mar 2006 10:12:43 PM PST