A problem I see with trying to obtain a retroactive CITES permit
is that you don't know how the office will react. They may thank
you for your concern and send you a permit. Or they may say sorry,
but we have to confiscate the plant(s) :-(!
Property seizure by the North Carolina Fish and Wildlife
service can include any property used while committing a violation.
Example: Poachers are shooting deer 1) at night, 2) from a boat,
3) using high-powered lights (1,2,3 are illegal here). They load
the deer into the boat and are spotted by Wildlife Officers.
The officers wait until the poachers have loaded their boat
onto a boat trailer hitched to a truck. They are *then* arrested
found guilty, fined *and* forfeit their guns, boat, trailer, and
truck since all of these were used in the commission of a crime.
I think the fine is small, but the total forfeiture was better
than US$20,000. Similar penalties have been imposed for killing
nesting sea turtles, and recently for tuna poaching. The laws
governing Dionaea poaching have been strengthened and may now
(hopefully) carry this threat.
Take care!
Jeff in North Carolina