Man faces jail in US for shipping 850 turtles in socks to Hong Kong

The US Department of Justice said that a Chinese man admitted that he was guilty of a local American court to export about 850 protected turtles wrapped in socks and falsely described as games.

Between August 2023 and November 2024, Wei Qiang Lin was issued to Hong Kong more than 200 parcels containing turtles, according to the Ministry of Justice statement on Monday.

The authorities said that the turtle boxes were classified as “containing” plastic animal games “, among other things.

Mr. Lynn first shipped the eastern turtles, the box and a triple box. Both types are original for the United States and are very appreciated by some pet owners.

Turtles have unique signs on their shells, and they are seen as a symbol of the situation in China, where they are often kept as pets.

The American authorities estimated that Mr. Lyn’s turtles, which have been seized, have a combined market value of $ 1.4 million (£ million). He was arrested when the animals were intercepted by law enforcement during a border inspection.

Both types, which were smuggled in large quantities in the 1990s, are protected by the International Trade Agreement in endangered species of wild animals and plants. Turtle trade can only be permissible with export permits or certificates re -export.

The eastern box turtle is also at risk by the International Federation for Conservation of Nature.

Besides the turtles, Mr. Lin also exported 11 other parcels full of reptiles, including toxic snakes, according to the Ministry of Justice.

Mr. Lynn, who is sentenced to December 23, is facing prison for up to five years.

In March, another Chinese citizen was sentenced to 30 months in prison for smuggling more than 2000 east turtles.

The animals were also wrapped in socks and packed in boxes, which were classified as almonds and chocolate cookies.

The American authorities estimated at the time that every turtle could have been sold for $ 2000 (1500 pounds).