Wei Qiang Lin's unlawful activities drew the attention of US authorities, leading to potential jail time and raising concerns over endangered species protection.
Illegal Turtle Trafficker Faces Prison Time in the US
Illegal Turtle Trafficker Faces Prison Time in the US
A Chinese man pleads guilty to smuggling 850 turtles disguised as toys to Hong Kong, highlighting ongoing wildlife trafficking issues.
A Chinese man, Wei Qiang Lin, has entered a guilty plea in a U.S. district court for his role in smuggling about 850 protected turtles, which were illegally packed in socks and falsely labeled as toys during their transport to Hong Kong. The U.S. Department of Justice reported that between August 2023 and November 2024, Lin shipped over 200 parcels containing these turtles to Hong Kong, using deceptive packaging that described the contents as "plastic animal toys" among other items.
Among those turtles were eastern box turtles and three-toed box turtles, species native to the U.S. and sought after as pets in China, where they serve as a status symbol. The turtles possess distinctive shell markings, adding to their desirability. Authorities estimated the market value of the seized turtles at approximately $1.4 million (£1 million). Lin’s illegal shipment was intercepted during a routine border inspection by law enforcement, bringing the trafficking scheme to light.
Both turtle species have a history of illegal trade, having been heavily smuggled in the 1990s, and are protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The sale of these turtles is strictly regulated, requiring proper export permits or re-export certificates. Furthermore, the eastern box turtle is classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
In addition to turtles, Lin was also implicated in exporting 11 other packages containing various reptiles, including venomous snakes. He is scheduled for sentencing on December 23, facing a maximum penalty of five years in prison. This case is not isolated; earlier this year, another Chinese national was sentenced to 30 months in prison for smuggling over 2,000 eastern box turtles, which were similarly concealed in socks and mislabelled as containing almonds and chocolate cookies. U.S. authorities had estimated a potential selling price of around $2,000 (£1,500) per turtle at that time, underscoring the lucrative nature of this illicit wildlife trade.
