Wei Qiang Lin, a Chinese national, has pleaded guilty in a U.S. district court for illegally exporting around 850 protected turtles wrapped in socks to Hong Kong. The animals, valued at $1.4 million, were marked as toys to bypass customs regulations.
U.S. Man Admits Guilt in Turtle Smuggling Scheme to Hong Kong
U.S. Man Admits Guilt in Turtle Smuggling Scheme to Hong Kong
Wei Qiang Lin faces sentencing for his role in exporting 850 protected turtles disguised as toys.
A Chinese man has acknowledged his guilt in a U.S. district court concerning the unauthorized exportation of approximately 850 protected turtles, which he concealed in socks and mislabelled as toys, as reported by the U.S. Department of Justice. Between August 2023 and November 2024, Wei Qiang Lin shipped over 200 parcels containing these turtles to Hong Kong, with U.S. officials highlighting that the boxes were marked as containing "plastic animal toys," among other items.
The turtles in question include eastern box turtles and three-toed box turtles, species that are native to the United States and highly valued by certain pet owners, particularly in China, where they are considered a status symbol. Law enforcement intercepted Lin’s shipments during a border inspection, leading to the discovery of the turtles, which were found tied in knotted socks. Authorities estimate that the combined market value of the turtles seized amounts to $1.4 million (£1 million).
Both species involved are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which mandates that their trade requires proper export permits or re-export certificates. Additionally, the eastern box turtle is classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Apart from turtles, Lin's shipments also included 11 other parcels containing reptiles, including venomous snakes. He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 23, 2023, and faces a potential prison term of up to five years. This case echoes a recent incident in March when another Chinese national received a 30-month prison sentence for smuggling over 2,000 eastern box turtles, also disguised as snacks. U.S. agencies continue to combat wildlife smuggling activities that threaten various species and ecosystems.
