Saw palmetto berry season leads to arrests by indian river county sheriffs department
Indian River County Agriculture and Marine Unit Deputy John McNeal patrols St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park for people illegally harvesting saw palmetto berries.
- Eleven people were arrested in Martin County, Florida, for allegedly stealing saw palmetto berries.
- The group, believed to be operating throughout Florida, was found with 6,000 pounds of berries and journals listing potential harvesting locations.
- Harvesting saw palmetto berries without a permit is a felony in Florida, punishable by up to five years in prison.
MARTIN COUNTY — A group of 11 people have been arrested on charges involving saw palmetto berry theft, according to law enforcement officials.
Detectives from the Sheriff’s Office Agricultural Unit were conducting surveillance and tracking the group who traveled from outside the county, sheriff’s officials stated on social media. Detectives found them near Southwest Citrus Boulevard.
The ring is believed to have been targeting counties across Florida and surveilling private property, ranches and farmland in Martin County for saw palmetto plants.
The group of 11 resisted arrest. Detectives deployed their tasers. The 11 were taken into custody and nine of them have ICE detainers for being undocumented, according to the post.
Detectives found 6,000 pounds of palmetto berries and also seized evidence including journals that listed potential other locations for the plants. The group faces felony and misdemeanor charges, according to the post.
A state law criminalizes saw palmetto berry harvesting without a permit as a felony and increases the penalty for unlawfully possessing the sought-after dietary supplement ingredient, carrying a potential five-year prison sentence.
The law mandates the immediate arrest of those found in violation of it.
The plant, almost exclusively found in wild Florida, was designated as “commercially exploited” in Florida, and permits were needed for harvesting and selling the berries beginning in 2018. Harvesting without a permit until 2024 was a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail.
The berries have an unpleasant, bitter taste. The extract from ripe berries is used as a nutritional supplement in the United States and in prescriptions throughout Europe to treat prostate and urinary problems.
(This story will be updated.)
Olivia Franklin is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Olivia on X @Livvvvv_5 or reach her by phone at 317-627-8048. E-mail her at olivia.franklin@tcpalm.com.
