**A Chinese citizen, Wei Qiang Lin, admitted guilt in a US court for shipping 850 turtles concealed in socks, with a market value of $1.4 million.**
**Chinese National Pleads Guilty to Turtle Smuggling in the US**
**Chinese National Pleads Guilty to Turtle Smuggling in the US**
**Man faces up to five years in prison for exporting endangered species labeled as toys.**
A man from China has confessed to illegally exporting approximately 850 endangered turtles to Hong Kong while disguising them as toys, according to a statement from the US Department of Justice. Wei Qiang Lin admitted in a US district court that between August 2023 and November 2024, he shipped more than 200 parcels filled with turtles, claiming they contained "plastic animal toys" among other items.
The culprits included eastern box turtles and three-toed box turtles, both species native to the United States and coveted by certain pet enthusiasts in China. The turtles were discovered by US authorities in knotted socks during a routine border inspection. Notably, these turtles feature distinctive shell markings, making them a symbol of status in China and as collectibles.
Authorities have assessed the combined value of the confiscated turtles at around $1.4 million (£1 million). Lin's illegal activities were rooted in the broader issue of wildlife trafficking, which has been empirically challenging due to the high demand for such species. Both turtle species are protected under international laws that restrict their trade unless proper export permits or re-export certificates are presented.
In addition to the turtles, Lin was also involved in shipping 11 other parcels containing reptiles, including venomous snakes, further complicating the case. Scheduled for sentencing on December 23, Lin may face a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Earlier this year, another Chinese individual received a 30-month prison term for smuggling over 2,000 eastern box turtles, underscoring the ongoing problem of wildlife trafficking into the United States.
