Episode
S2E5: Special Agent Tom Chisdock - I'll have the Ginseng ... and the Drugs!
- Podcast
- Nature's Secret Service
- Published
- Oct 28, 2025
- Duration seconds
- 3553
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://rss.com/podcasts/natures-secret-service/2265185
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Summary
Plant crimes resurface this week but, this time, in the form of American ginseng! A native plant found throughout the Appalachian Mountains, including the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and under heavy pressure from unscrupulous commercial collectors. Join Ed and former special agent Tom Chisdock as they discuss the threats to the species, the illegal trade, and Tom's great work exposing a ginseng trafficker who also sold opioids straight from the same store that served tourists coming and going from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.