I just got out of federal court and wanted to share my amazement of something. I represent a local marina which plead guilty (as a corporation) to one count of violating 16 USC 3372 and 3373, which, for those who care, criminalizes certain transportation and sale of certain wildlife. Long story short, in this case, my client and it's employees (two of whom plead guilty as well) illegally transported rockfish across state lines. Some of the rock had been improperly tagged or not tagged at all. The illegal "contraband" was seized in another state and have been on ice in federal custody for five years. I think the total was 22 fish.
At any rate, my amazement involves the actual "raid" of the marina. Mind you, this was not a criminal operation. They dropped the ball and about 22 fish were transported illegally, however, these were just fisherman who otherwise were just operating a business. There was no other criminal activity, no one had records, no evidence anyone was armed, no evidence of criminals harbored, no evidence of spitting on the sidewalk, microwaving puppies, jaywalking . . . you get the picture. Despite this, the federal fisheries agents donned full on spec-op gear- MP-5s, head gear, black uniforms, knee pads, FLIR (OK, just kidding about the FLIR), etc.
WHY? WHY WOULD FISHERY AGENTS INVESTIGATING ILLEGAL TRANSPORT OF FISH NEED TO RAID THE MARINA LIKE IT WAS A CRACK HOUSE?
I'm convinced that agencies now adays are tactical-happy and kinda go overboard. The agents I dealt with are really nice guys but, geez, was all that sh*t really necessary?
BTW, the questions are, of course, rhetorical.