Fuzz bust tiger tooth sale in Queens

A Queens man was fined $500 for the illegal sale of a tiger tooth pendant. Photo via DEC

By Rachel Vick

A Queens man was forced to pay $500 after he used Craigslist to sell an endangered tiger tooth to state officials posing as buyers. Two undercover officers from the Department of Environmental Conservation police officers arranged to “buy” the tooth from the man after finding his Craigslist listing for the $500 tiger tooth pendant in August.

The DEC hit him with a $500 fine for his role in the sale of endangered wildlife parts, which is illegal in New York State.

The confiscated tooth will be used for educational purposes, DEC said.

"Our ECOs have worked arduous hours, both deep in our remote wildernesses and in the tight confines of our urban landscapes, for far longer than the 50 years since DEC was created,” said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. “These officers are critical to achieving DEC's mission to protect and enhance our environment.”

It’s not the first the DEC has netted exotic animal parts from a Queens seller.
State environmental officials seized a pair of elephant foot stools from a Forest Hills couple who tried to sell the illegal furniture online.