• A Chinese man pleaded guilty for smuggling 850 protected turtles.
• The turtles were disguised as "plastic animal toys" to evade authorities.
• Wei Qiang Lin faces up to five years in prison at sentencing on December 23.
• The turtles are valued at over $1.4 million and are protected under CITES.
• This case highlights ongoing issues in wildlife trafficking.

Wei Qiang Lin, a Chinese national from Brooklyn, has pleaded guilty in a federal court to smuggling approximately 850 protected turtles, including eastern box turtles and three-toed box turtles, intended for shipment to Hong Kong. The turtles, wrapped in socks and labeled as "plastic animal toys," were intercepted by customs officials during a border inspection, leading to the discovery of the shipment valued at more than $1 million, according to South China Morning Post, BBC, CBS News, India Times, and HuffPost.

The U.S. Department of Justice reported that the turtles, tied up and packed for transport, are particularly desired in the pet market, especially in China and Hong Kong. This smuggling activity is indicative of ongoing illegal wildlife trade issues, as the turtles are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which regulates their exportation, noted by South China Morning Post, BBC, and CBS News.

Lin also allegedly sent additional parcels containing other reptiles, including venomous snakes. He could face a significant sentence of up to five years in prison, and is set for sentencing on December 23, as reported by India Times and HuffPost.