Photo by daniyal ghanavati
A Chinese national has pleaded guilty in a U.S. district court to illegally exporting approximately 850 protected turtles disguised as toys, according to a statement released by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Between August 2023 and November 2024, Wei Qiang Lin sent over 200 parcels from the United States to Hong Kong, each containing the smuggled turtles. Federal authorities revealed on Monday that the packages were falsely labeled to avoid detection, marked as containing “plastic animal toys” and other misleading descriptions.
Investigators say Lin primarily trafficked eastern box turtles and three-toed box turtles — both native to the U.S. and considered highly desirable by collectors and exotic pet owners. These species are known for their distinctive shell patterns and are regarded as status symbols in China, where they are frequently kept as pets.
The U.S. Department of Justice estimated the seized turtles had a total black-market value of roughly $1.4 million (£1 million). Lin was ultimately apprehended after law enforcement officials intercepted one of the shipments during a routine border inspection.
Both turtle species have a history of being heavily trafficked, particularly during the 1990s, and are now protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). International trade involving these animals is restricted and requires valid export permits or re-export certificates. Additionally, the eastern box turtle is classified as “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), underscoring the species’ risk of decline.
In addition to the turtles, authorities reported that Lin was responsible for exporting 11 other parcels containing various reptiles, including venomous snakes.
Lin is scheduled to be sentenced on December 23 and could face up to five years in prison under U.S. federal law.
This case mirrors a similar smuggling incident earlier this year. In March, another Chinese citizen received a 30-month prison sentence for illegally transporting more than 2,000 eastern box turtles. Those animals were also hidden in socks and shipped in boxes falsely labeled as food items, including almonds and chocolate cookies. At the time, U.S. authorities estimated that each turtle could have fetched up to $2,000 (£1,500) on the black market.
