MJP –
The most recent weekly report from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) details the seizure of a U-Haul in St. Lucie with illegally harvested saw palmetto berries and the subsequent arrest of multiple individuals.
Officers responded to a tip on the U-Haul’s nighttime drive through Savannah’s Preserve State Park, which led to the incident. Near the park’s entrance, police began to pull over vehicles.
Both the driver and the passenger got away on foot, but they were eventually caught with the help of a K-9 team from St. Lucie.
While searching the car, authorities discovered nine more individuals and numerous bags with more than 9,400 pounds of saw palmetto berries that had been illegally gathered.
Eleven people were taken into custody for their involvement in the unlawful activity within the state park.
The collecting of saw palmetto berries is heavily prohibited due to the negative influence it has on the ecosystem.
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This significant seizure highlights the continuous endeavors to combat the illicit gathering of these berries in Florida’s protected zones.
