"It's not just a handful or a dozen or even two dozen plants. We're talking about thousands of plants, and that's enough to start causing some major environmental damage," said Foy.

Locals concerned about abalone poaching tipped off Fish and Wildlife after seeing numerous boxes being mailed overseas from the post office. A judge in Humboldt County suspended the defendants’ prison sentences of more than 3½ years each, provided they don’t enter the United States without prior authorization from the federal government and state courts. They were also fined $10,000 each.

Volunteers from the California Native Plant Society replanted the stolen succulents in Humboldt Lagoons State Park.

Similar busts have been made in Mendocino County.