Illegal saw palmetto berry harvest leads to more than 15 arrests, hundreds of pounds recovered

More than 15 arrests were made after authorities recovered hundreds of pounds of saw palmetto berries from illegal harvests.

According to the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office, thousands of these berries were crammed into more than six enormous bags recovered by law enforcement.

The arrests were made with the help of RSCO and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, working with the Sebastian Police Department.

• RELATED: Illegal saw palmetto berry harvesting operation discovered

These berries are an essential natural resource in Florida and are purported to have health benefits.

However, because these berries are sought by so many people, some resort to trespassing and stealing them from private property.

Harvesting season begins in August and ends in November.

Click here to learn more about saw palmetto berry harvesting from the Florida Department of Agriculture.

Click here to apply for a permit.