Chinese man charged with trying to smuggle eastern box turtles

Wildlife inspectors discovered the 40 box turtles at an international mail facility in Torrance, Calif. The suspect is accused of binding them with socks and placing them in boxes falsely labeled as almonds and chocolate cookies, according to a Monday statement by the Department of Justice. The boxes were set to be mailed to Hong Kong. One of the turtles was found dead. With their tie-die-like bright markings, Eastern box turtles are protected from exploitation by an international treaty and may not be exported without a permit. The United States and China are parties to The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. 

Who did this, allegedly? Hong Kong’s Sai Keung Tin, 53, was arrested Feb. 25 at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City, according to the DOJ. A federal grand jury returned an indictment against him on Friday. His aliases include “SK Tin,” “Ricky Tin,” and “Ji Yearlong,” the DOJ said. He is charged with four counts of exporting merchandise contrary to law and is presumed innocent until proven guilty.