Chinese smuggler’s ‘plastic toy’ packages from U.S. contained something worth $1.4 million, and it wasn’t toys

A Chinese man has admitted to shipping hundreds of protected turtles from the United States to Hong Kong in a scheme that lasted over a year. Wei Qiang Lin pleaded guilty in a US district court to illegally exporting the animals wrapped in socks and hidden in packages.

Between August 2023 and November 2024, Lin sent more than 200 parcels to Hong Kong containing around 850 turtles. US authorities said the shipments were worth about $1.4 million on the black market, making it one of many lucrative criminal enterprises that demonstrate how profitable illegal activities can be.

The packages were labeled as containing plastic animal toys, among other things, according to the US Department of Justice. This false labeling helped Lin avoid detection for months as he smuggled the valuable reptiles across international borders.

High demand for American box turtles in Asia drives illegal trade

Lin mainly shipped eastern box turtles and three-toed box turtles, both native to the United States. These species are highly wanted by pet owners, especially in China where they are seen as status symbols – much like how celebrities have turned exotic animals into luxury status items. The turtles have unique shell patterns that make them particularly attractive to collectors.

Both turtle species are protected under international wildlife trade laws. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora requires special permits to export these animals legally. The eastern box turtle is also listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Law enforcement caught Lin when they found the animals during a border inspection. Besides the turtles, he also shipped 11 other packages filled with reptiles, including poisonous snakes, according to court documents. Lin faces up to five years in prison and will be sentenced on December 23.

This case shows a growing problem with wildlife smuggling from the US to Asia. In March, another Chinese citizen got 30 months in prison for smuggling more than 2,000 eastern box turtles. Those animals were also wrapped in socks and packed in boxes labeled as containing almonds and chocolate cookies. US authorities said each turtle in that case could have sold for $2,000.