Chinese Woman Pleads Guilty to Smuggling 29 Protected Turtles into Canada via Vermont Lake

A woman from Hong Kong pleaded guilty on Friday to illegally attempting to transport 29 eastern box turtles, a protected species, across a Vermont lake into Canada via kayak.

Background of the Incident

On June 28th, authorities apprehended Wan Yee Ng, 41, at an Airbnb in Canaan as she was about to embark on a kayaking expedition on Lake Wallace. Authorities had been tipped off by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police regarding two individuals, including a man presumed to be her husband, who were attempting to navigate an inflatable craft from Canada into the United States, according to court documents. Prompted by this information, agents conducted a search of Ng's duffle bag, only to discover 29 live eastern box turtles, meticulously wrapped in socks. The affidavit revealed that eastern box turtles are illicitly sold on the Chinese black market for an astonishing $1,000 each.

Further investigations led to the seizure of Ng's cellphone, uncovering communications that revealed her ulterior motives to smuggle the turtles into Canada for eventual sale in Hong Kong, as per the plea agreement. It was disclosed that Ng, a resident of Hong Kong, was living in Canada at the time of her apprehension.

Legal Proceedings

On the aptly scheduled day, Ng entered a guilty plea to one count of unlawfully attempting to export and send 29 eastern box turtles out of the United States, in contravention of the law. VTDigger first broke the news of her plea agreement. The legal consequences of her actions will be determined in December, where she faces a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison, in addition to a fine not exceeding $250,000.

The case underscores the pressing issues surrounding the illegal wildlife trade and the need for stringent measures to protect endangered species from importation and smuggling.