Bear parts trafficker pleads guilty to dealing in gall bladders, paws

Yunhee (Sarah) Kim of Burnaby has pleaded guilty to seven B.C. Wildlife Act charges, related to trafficking black bear parts.

Kim pleaded guilty to three counts of trafficking bear gall bladders and two counts of importing bear paws on Nov. 12.

The charges stem from incidents in Merritt and Coquitlam B.C. between Oct. 20, 2014 and March 25. 2015.

A second woman is charged in the case and is set to appear in court Nov. 30.

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Yon Kim has not yet entered a plea on charges of trafficking in bear gall bladders, importing or exporting bear paw and unlawful possession of dead wildlife.

The charges laid have fines up to $250,000 and two years in jail.

In B.C. it is illegal to sell bear gall bladders, paws or genitals.

These items, sometimes used in traditional medicine or for broths said to deliver strength or healing, sell for as much as $10,000 for a gall bladder, according to Canadian conservation officers.