Chinese Man Admits to Smuggling 850 Protected Turtles to Hong Kong

A Chinese national faces potential jail time after shipping over 800 turtles concealed in socks, aiming to profit from the coveted species.

A Chinese man has confessed in a U.S. district court to the unlawful export of approximately 850 protected turtles, which were hidden in socks and misrepresented as toys. The U.S. Department of Justice disclosed the development on Monday, revealing that Wei Qiang Lin sent more than 200 parcels to Hong Kong between August 2023 and November 2024.

According to authorities, the turtles were crammed into boxes that were labeled as "containing 'plastic animal toys'," obscuring the true contents. The shipment mainly consisted of eastern box turtles and three-toed box turtles, both native to the United States and sought after by certain pet collectors in China.

The turtles’ distinctive shell markings contribute to their appeal, as they are regarded as a status symbol in China where they are treasured as pets. Officials from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service discovered these turtles when they were intercepted during a border inspection, with authorities estimating the market value of the seized turtles to be around $1.4 million.

Both species are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, as their trade can only occur with appropriate export permits or re-export certificates. Furthermore, the eastern box turtle is categorized as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

In addition to the turtles, Lin reportedly shipped 11 other parcels containing reptiles, including venomous snakes. Scheduled for sentencing on December 23, Lin faces up to five years in prison for his actions. In a related case, another Chinese national received a 30-month prison sentence earlier this year for smuggling over 2,000 eastern box turtles. Those turtles were also discovered packed in socks and falsely labeled as containing edible treats like almonds and chocolate cookies, with each turtle potentially fetching around $2,000 in sales.