Despite what loads of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles merchandise might lead you to believe, turtles are not toys.
Nevertheless, that’s exactly what a New York man tried to convince authorities of in attempting to smuggle turtles from the U.S. into Hong Kong.
The Office of Public Affairs reports that Wei Qiang Lin, of Brooklyn, has pleaded guilty after shipping over 200 boxes containing about 850 turtles by labeling them “plastic animal toys.” Upon inspecting the boxes at a border inspection, law enforcement found very real, not-plastic turtles wrapped up in socks.
The boxes contained mostly eastern box turtles and three-toed box turtles, which are known for their colorful markings and are also protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. The total estimated market value of the turtles is $1.4 million.
Lin faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison, along with fines.