A Chinese man in the United States has admitted to smuggling about 850 protected turtles to Hong Kong, hiding them in socks and labelling the parcels as toys.
According to the US Department of Justice, 44-year-old Wei Qiang Lin shipped over 200 parcels between August 2023 and November 2024. Most of the animals were eastern box turtles and three-toed box turtles, both native to the US and considered highly valuable pets in parts of China.
Officials said the turtles, worth an estimated \$1.4 million, were discovered during a border inspection. Photos from the US Fish and Wildlife Service showed the animals stuffed inside knotted black socks before being placed in boxes marked as “plastic animal toys” and other false descriptions.
“These turtles are protected under international law and can only be traded legally with proper export permits,” the Justice Department said. The eastern box turtle is also listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Prosecutors said Lin also shipped 11 other parcels containing reptiles, including venomous snakes. He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 23 and could face up to five years in prison.
In a similar case earlier this year, another Chinese man was jailed for 30 months for trying to send more than 2,000 turtles overseas, also hidden in socks and falsely labelled as food items.
