Abbotsford, B.C., man pleads guilty to trafficking in black bear paws
PORT COQUITLAM, B.C. — British Columbia’s Conservation Officer Service says a man from Abbotsford, B.C., has pleaded guilty to two counts of trafficking in black bear paws.
A statement from the service says Hong Tao Yang entered his pleas in a Port Coquitlam, B.C., courtroom on Wednesday, where he was ordered to pay a penalty and victim surcharge worth a total of $8,625.
The service says it began an investigation into the illegal trafficking of wildlife parts after receiving a tip from the public about someone looking to buy bear paws.
It says Yang also pleaded guilty to a separate count of trafficking in wildlife, with the offences all taking place in Maple Ridge between October 2022 and October 2023.