New York entrepreneur found guilty of illegally selling unregistered pesticide in Maryland

Idrissa Bagayoko, the owner of Maliba Trading LLC, was found guilty of recklessly transporting a probable carcinogen and selling an unregistered pesticide in Maryland. Bagayoko drove from New York to Maryland to sell the unregistered pesticide Sniper DDVP, which was later found to contain the chemical dichlorvos, classified as a probable human carcinogen. Bagayoko was stopped with 18 boxes of Sniper DDVP in Elkton, Maryland, and an investigation revealed he had a total of 1,728 bottles of the pesticide. He was charged under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act and the Hazardous Material Transportation Act. The illegal transport of dichlorvos without shipping papers carries a maximum prison sentence of five years and a fine of up to $250,000, while the illegal sale of an unregistered pesticide carries a maximum prison sentence of one year and a fine of up to $25,000. Bagayoko’s actions violated regulations aimed at ensuring the safety, effectiveness, and proper labeling of pesticides in the U.S. and the federal regulation of hazardous substances transported in interstate commerce.

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