Zachary Mann, senior special agent/public information officer and CBP officer Angel Marquez assisted in coordinating a media event inside a CBP-controlled area of an international air carrier. They were also on hand to discuss the partnership and working relations between CBP and U.S. Fish and Wildlife and were available to answer media questions related to CBP’s role in intercepting endangered animal or plants species.

South Florida is in the extremely unique position of being one the major points of entry for the legal and illegal entry of exotic wildlife and plants and unfortunately has an ecosystem that is perfect for rapid population growth of invasive species both in the Everglades and along the coast.

McMurray and Derek watched intently as Fish and Wildlife officers examined a shipment of African clawed frogs arriving from Chile as about 20 members of the local and international media looked on. The frogs, which are legal to import, were headed to a pet shop in North Florida. Although not known to be a threat to Florida’s environment today, who knows what will happen if enough people get tired of them as pets, discard them in the local pond and they populate. Derek and McMurray commented on how an animal that is not endangered or invasive today may become endangered or damaging to an ecosystem tomorrow.

With numerous examples of endangered species on hand—intercepted by CBP and Fish and Wildlife—Derek and McMurray praised the hard work and vigilance exhibited each day by CBP and Fish and Wildlife officers on the frontline. "We appreciate the fantastic work these officers, the true heroes, do each and every day protecting endangered or threatened wildlife," said Derek.

Derek said Americans can make an impact on the problem of wildlife trafficking by not purchasing wildlife items while overseas as souvenirs. "Don’t purchase an Ivory carving or a baby tiger skin just because someone on the street tells you it came from an animal that died of natural causes," said Derek. "Most of theses animal products have been purposely taken for profits," she added. "The trafficking in endangered or threatened wildlife is a close third only behind drug smuggling and arms trading," stated McMurray. "Estimates indicate $10 billion in illegal wildlife products are traded on the black market globally each year with China and United States being first and second in consumption," she said.

Derek was originally approached to fulfill this special role as special envoy of the Secretary of State for Wildlife Trafficking Issues based on her wildlife interests and her sense of public service. Derek's involvement in wildlife issues extends to her work at the Galapagos Conservancy and WildAid. She's taken up the cause of stopping the slaughter of horses in the United States for food export to Europe and testified before Congress with the National Horse Protection Coalition.

Derek and McMurray also participated in a panel discussion at the University of Miami with Rob Stewart, director of the documentary Sharkwater on shark fining, Dr. Andrew Baker, coral reef expert, and Neil Hammerschlag, co-founder/director of the South Florida Student Shark Program. The panel members discussed the illegal trade in ocean corals, often purchased as jewelry by tourists on cruise ships, and the horrific practice of shark fining, where fisherman cut the fins off of live sharks and throw the animal back into the water to drown. Recent estimates indicate approximately 100 million sharks are killed each year world wide and that oceanic shark populations, those larger than four feet, have been decreased by more than 90 percent.

Last month CBP officers at Miami International Airport intercepted four large suitcases filled with undeclared shark fins and approximately 500 seahorses from a woman who stated the animal products were for personal use. This case is currently under investigation.