A woman from Hong Kong, Wan Yee Ng, was caught attempting to smuggle 29 protected turtles from the United States into Canada. She pleaded guilty to the crime in U.S. District Court in Burlington, Vermont. The turtles in question were eastern box turtles, a protected species in several states including Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan, and New Hampshire.
Ng was arrested in June at an Airbnb in Canaan, Vermont, where she was caught loading up her inflatable kayak to cross Lake Wallace into Canada. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police alerted U.S. authorities that Ng’s suspected husband and another person were paddling towards the U.S. side of the lake in an inflatable watercraft.
Upon inspection, police found 29 eastern box turtles inside a duffle bag wrapped in socks, indicating Ng’s intent to smuggle them for profit on the Chinese black market where they can fetch up to $1,000 each. Ng had been using her cellphone to coordinate the smuggling operation, as revealed during the investigation.
Ng pleaded guilty to unlawfully attempting to export the turtles out of the United States and is currently in custody awaiting her sentencing in December. She faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
The case highlights the illegal wildlife trade and the lengths people will go to profit from smuggling protected species. It also underscores the importance of wildlife protection laws in preventing the exploitation of endangered animals for financial gain. Authorities are cracking down on such crimes to preserve biodiversity and combat illegal wildlife trafficking globally.
It is crucial for individuals to be aware of the consequences of participating in illegal wildlife trade and to report any suspicious activities to the authorities. By working together to protect endangered species, we can ensure a sustainable future for wildlife and prevent further harm to our ecosystems.