8 FL Venomous Snake Traffickers Arrested In Operation Viper

FLORIDA — A lengthy investigation nicknamed "Operation Viper" has uncovered a robust market for black-market venomous snakes in Florida, including some of the most dangerous snakes in the world, said state wildlife officials.

After receiving tips and complaints about a black market for venomous snakes, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation began a long-term investigation in 2020 using undercover officers to determine the extent of the illegal sales.

FWC Investigations and Intelligence Section Leader Major Randy Bowlin said the illegal sale, purchase, transport and caging of these snakes is especially disconcerting because it threatens the long-term well-being of the state's wildlife population.

"If these illegal and dangerous nonnative species were to escape, they could easily live and breed in Florida's subtropical climate," he said.

During the investigation by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Division of Law Enforcement, nearly 200 snakes representing 24 species from around the world were purchased or sold by wildlife traffickers. Those species included the inland taipan, bushmaster, rhinoceros viper, African bush viper, Gaboon viper, green mamba, eyelash viper, multiple species of spitting cobra, forest cobra, puff adder and saw-scaled vipers.

Several of those species are among the most venomous snakes in the world. (See list below.)

Much of the illegal buying and selling of snakes took place on specialized websites or closed social media pages. Once these black-market deals were arranged, violators arranged in-person meetings to exchange the snakes for money. Both buyers and sellers were aware that the sellers were unlicensed and that the buyers were purchasing the snakes illegally, Bowlin said.

Among those selling snakes were wholesale dealers who imported large shipments of nonnative venomous snakes from multiple countries around the world.

Among those charged following the investigation are:

• Delvin Eugene Sasnett, 32, of Eagle Lake in Polk County, who is also involved in the sale of other types of wildlife, according to the FWC. Among the 19 charges against him are possession of a threatened species, unsafe conditions, illegally harvesting turtles, improper caging and feeding alligators.
• William Chase Agee, 32, of Holly Hill in Volusia County, was charged with nine violations concerning venomous reptiles.
• Dylan Isaac Levin, 30, of Palm Beach Gardens, was charged with three violations related to the possession and sale of venomous snakes.
• Edward Daniel Bays, 25, of Southwest Ranches, received five violations in Broward and Miami-Dade counties.
• Jorge Javier Gonzalez, 23, of Miami, was charged with illegally trafficking snakes, specifically Burmese pythons, in Broward, Collier, Hendry and Miami-Dade counties. He's been charged with eight violations.
• Paul Edward Miller, 48, of Cape Coral, is a large importer of snakes, an established wildlife wholesaler and the owner of Calusa Animal Company, said the FWC. He faces four violations.
• Joseph David Switalski Jr., 37, of Plantation, is an established reptile dealer and the owner of JDS Holdings and Trading LLC. During the investigation, the FWC said he illegally sold or purchased more than 60 snakes. He has been charged with seven violations.
• Timothy James Gould, 38, of Central City, Pennsylvania, was arrested by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, which said Gould is an established wildlife transporter who advertises his illegal services on a popular online marketplace for wildlife dealers. When arrested for six violations, Gould had 27 illegal snakes in his possession.

Charges have been filed with the appropriate State Attorney Offices, and judicial proceedings are pending.

World's Most Venomous Snakes

There are more than 3,000 species of snakes in the world and about 600 species are venomous.

The Australia Venom Research Unit said the top five most dangerous snakes due to their toxic venom are the inland taipan, the eastern brown snake, the coastal taipan, the tiger snake and the black tiger snake.

A native of Australia, the inland or western taipan has the most toxic venom that it injects when it bites. Its venom is potent enough to kill 100 men in one bite.

The puff adder is the species thought to kill the most people in Africa. Not only does it have a venomous bite, but it blends in well with its surroundings, making it more likely to be stepped on. However, the black mamba has the most toxic venom of any species in Africa.

The world's largest venomous snake is the king cobra, which can spit venom up to 8 feet away.

The top 10 deadliest snakes, according to Live Science, are:

1. inland taipan
2. coastal taipan
3. king cobra
4. banded krait
5. saw-scaled viper
6. Russell's viper
7. eastern tiger snake
8. boomslang
9. fer-de-lance
10. black mamba

According to the Global Snakebite Initiative, snake bites cause about 125,000 deaths a year worldwide.

Bowlin said the people involved in venomous snake trafficking show a complete disregard for the regulations designed to keep Floridians safe.

“Some of these snakes are among the most dangerous in the world,” said Bowlin. “Florida’s rules and laws are in place to protect the public and prevent tragedies from occurring.”

Tracking Down Traffickers

The FWC obtained search warrants for many of the social media accounts and was able to identify a number of people involved.

Georgia wildlife officials took part in the investigation, targeting people traveling through the state with carloads of venomous snakes.

"The actions of individuals such as the ones charged make our jobs only that much harder,” said Dr. Benjamin Abo, primary investigator and medical director for the venomous response unit. “We fight every day to keep people alive and minimize permanent complications after a tragic bite occurs. The rules for the transportation, caging and handling of these animals are in place for important reasons.”

“We’ve seen time and again that individuals who will break one law do not limit themselves to only one area of illegal activity,” said FWC Division of Law Enforcement Director Col. Roger Young. “Documented violations range from conservation second-degree misdemeanors to third-degree felony possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.”

“Some of the individuals apprehended by this operation are established dealers of snakes,” said FWC Commission Chairman Rodney Barreto. “Our law enforcement officers will continue to hold accountable those who disregard the rules which protect our natural resources of the state.”

Investigations Section Capt. Van Barrow said a well-established tactic for black market dealers is to launder illegally procured snakes through a properly permitted facility, so they may be sold without divulging their true origin.

“During this investigation, officers saw and heard disturbing evidence of widespread illegal activity, not the least of which were individuals who indicated that they were releasing or planning to release prohibited reptiles into nearby native habitat to establish a readily accessible wild breeding population,” said Barrow.

Wildlife trafficking ranks fourth behind, drugs, weapons and humans in illegal sales. According to the Wildlife Conservation Society, illicit wildlife trafficking is estimated to generate between $7.8 billion and $10 billion per year.