Lin's attempt to export about 850 protected turtles to Hong Kong ended in legal trouble after he falsely labeled them as toys. Between August 2023 and November 2024, the Chinese man shipped over 200 parcels, hiding eastern box turtles and three-toed box turtles—species native to the US and sought after as status symbols in China.
The turtles were discovered during a border inspection, tied up in knotted socks and packed into boxes labeled "plastic animal toys." The US Fish and Wildlife Service has placed strict regulations on the trade of these turtles under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
Authorities valued the seized turtles at a whopping $1.4 million, as these unique creatures are often kept as pets in wealthy households. Lin's sentencing is set for December 23, where he faces up to five years behind bars. This isn’t his first smuggling case tied to turtles; another Chinese national recently received a 30-month sentence for a similar crime involving over 2,000 eastern box turtles.
The turtles were discovered during a border inspection, tied up in knotted socks and packed into boxes labeled "plastic animal toys." The US Fish and Wildlife Service has placed strict regulations on the trade of these turtles under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
Authorities valued the seized turtles at a whopping $1.4 million, as these unique creatures are often kept as pets in wealthy households. Lin's sentencing is set for December 23, where he faces up to five years behind bars. This isn’t his first smuggling case tied to turtles; another Chinese national recently received a 30-month sentence for a similar crime involving over 2,000 eastern box turtles.
