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11 Arrested After 6,000 Pounds of Saw Palmetto Berries Illegally Harvested, Sheriff's Office Says
Eleven suspects, including nine undocumented migrants, were charged with stealing nearly 6,000 pounds of saw palmetto berries worth up to $24,000 from a private ranch, deputies said.
- Eleven men were arrested in Martin County for attempting to steal nearly 6,000 pounds of saw palmetto berries from private property.
- The arrests followed months of counter-surveillance by deputies tracking an organized crime ring from Immokalee, Florida, targeting farmland near Southwest Citrus Boulevard west of Palm City.
- The suspects resisted arrest requiring multiple taser deployments, and nine undocumented individuals were placed under ICE detainers while all faced felony charges.
- Sheriff John Budensiek noted that saw palmetto berries, valued at $1.35 to $4.00 per pound and used in supplements, generate about $150 million annually and that thefts have been ongoing despite harsher 2024 penalties.
- The law enforcement action returned the stolen berries to the rancher, sent a warning to organized groups, and emphasized continued cooperation with federal authorities to deter future thefts.
18 Articles
18 Articles
11 arrested in Florida berry theft ring, deputies say
Authorities in Martin County have arrested 11 individuals in connection with an organized crime ring accused of stealing nearly 6,000 pounds of saw palmetto berries — used in dietary supplements — from local ranchers.
11 arrested after 6,000 pounds of saw palmetto berries illegally harvested, sheriff’s office says - WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports
MARTIN COUNTY, Florida (WPTV) — Eleven people are in custody after the Martin County Sheriff’s Office said a “group of traveling thieves” was caught trying
11 arrested after 6,000 pounds of saw palmetto berries illegally harvested, sheriff's office says
By Jon Shainman , Scott Sutton Click here for updates on this story MARTIN COUNTY, Florida (WPTV) — Eleven people are in custody after the Martin County Sheriff’s Office said a “group of traveling thieves” was caught trying to cash in on thousands of pounds of illegally harvested saw palmetto berries. The lucrative berries are ripe from August to November in Florida and frequently attract people looking to cash in on the fruit. According to …
Three People Arrested Over Berries Of All Things
Theft is theft, even if it is just tasty berries. There have been numerous berry heists cropping up all across Florida. This has resulted in significant losses to local farmers, so the police started paying attention. A full investigation was launched in order to discover who was behind the organised crime. The tip-off that resulted in 11 people being arrested for berry theft came from an anonymous caller. They reported a group of people, wearin…
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