Man Pleads Guilty to Smuggling 850 Turtles to Hong Kong

A Chinese man has admitted guilt in a U.S. court for illegally shipping 850 protected turtles to Hong Kong, hidden in socks and falsely labelled. Lin faces a potential five-year prison term for his role in this wildlife smuggling operation.

 

In a troubling case of wildlife trafficking, Wei Qiang Lin, a Chinese national, has pleaded guilty in a U.S. district court for exporting approximately 850 protected eastern box turtles, wrapped in socks and mislabelled as toys. His illegal activities spanned from August 2023 to November 2024, during which he sent over 200 parcels to Hong Kong, as confirmed by the U.S. Department of Justice.

The turtles, sought after for their unique markings and regarded as a status symbol in China, were found tied in knotted socks when intercepted by U.S. authorities. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reports that Lin's contraband had an estimated market value of $1.4 million (£1 million). His smuggling operation was uncovered during a routine border inspection.

Both the eastern box turtle and the three-toed box turtle are native to the United States and highly valued among pet enthusiasts. These species are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, permitting trade only under strict regulations that require export permits or re-export certificates. Notably, the eastern box turtle has also been designated as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

In addition to the turtles, Lin was found to have exported 11 other parcels containing various reptiles, including venomous snakes. His sentencing is set for December 23, where he could face up to five years behind bars. This case parallels a similar incident from March, where another Chinese individual was sentenced to 30 months in prison for smuggling over 2,000 eastern box turtles, also hidden in socks and falsely labelled. Each turtle from that case was estimated to sell for around $2,000 (£1,500).