A man from Brooklyn, New York, recently pleaded guilty to a large-scale turtle smuggling operation. Wei Qiang Lin shipped around 850 turtles, valued at about $1.4 million, to Hong Kong. Instead of declaring live animals, Lin hid the turtles inside socks packed within delivery boxes to avoid detection.
Lin appeared in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York, where prosecutors charged him with falsely labeling live turtles as fake toys. The court documents revealed that Lin sent approximately 222 parcels to Hong Kong, disguising them as “plastic animal toys” or other harmless items. This mislabeling was a deliberate attempt to trick customs and evade wildlife trade laws.
During border inspections, agents intercepted Lin’s shipments. They discovered turtles tightly bound and taped inside knotted socks inside the boxes. Alongside turtles, Lin also smuggled other reptiles, including venomous snakes, in 11 additional parcels. These actions clearly violated laws protecting wildlife.
The turtles Lin smuggled were mostly eastern box turtles and three-toed box turtles. Both species are native to the United States and feature colorful, attractive markings. These markings increase demand in the international pet trade, especially in Hong Kong and China, where exotic pets are highly prized.
Moreover, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) protects these turtles. The treaty aims to halt illegal exports of endangered species like these, which faced heavy poaching during the 1990s. Despite regulations, illegal turtle smuggling remains a significant problem.
Lin faces serious consequences for his crimes. If the court convicts him, he could serve up to five years in prison, receive three years of supervised release, and pay fines of up to $250,000 or twice the profits gained from the illegal trade. Lin also agreed to forfeit all property rights to the seized turtles. His sentencing is scheduled later this year.
This case follows another recent prosecution involving turtle smuggling. Sai Keung Tin, also called Ricky Tin, previously received prison time for helping traffic about 2,100 turtles to Hong Kong. Like Lin, Tin mislabeled shipments, calling them “almonds” or “chocolate cookies” to hide their true contents.
Together, these cases highlight ongoing efforts to stop turtle smuggling and protect endangered wildlife. Law enforcement agencies remain vigilant to prevent such illegal activities and preserve native species.
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