DETROIT: The US Customs authorities have arrested a Canadian man trying to smuggle 1,007 turtles to China at Michigan Airport.
The accused, who was arrested boarding a plane bound for Shanghai, concealed the turtles in rubber snow boots. The turtles belong to several species including diamondback terrapins, red-necked pond turtles, spotted turtles, wood turtles, Blanding’s turtles, red-eared sliders and African spur-thighed and are less than a month old.
Authorities believe the man is part of an alleged smuggling ring connected to another Canadian man caught at the border in August trying to smuggle turtles inside his pants.