On Friday, the three men were charged with stealing more than $US600,000 ($860,000) worth of wild succulents from public lands and attempting to smuggle them into Asia, where a lucrative black market for the trendy houseplants is flourishing. The bust, which led to the seizure of more than 3700 plants - weighing 300 kilograms - was part of a larger crackdown on succulent poachers who are believed to be part of international smuggling rings. Overseas, the plants retail for as much as $70 each, according to wildlife officials, and are a highly prized consumer good among the growing middle class.