Woman Faces Prison for Attempting to Smuggle Turtles Across Lake to Canada

A woman was caught attempting to smuggle 29 eastern box turtles from the United States to Canada, hiding the protected reptiles inside socks in a duffle bag. Wan Yee Ng, who was arrested in Vermont in June, was preparing to paddle across Lake Wallace in an inflatable kayak when authorities apprehended her. She has since pleaded guilty to a federal smuggling charge.

Eastern box turtles face significant threats from habitat loss, road fatalities, disease, and illegal collection for the pet trade. The Turtle Survival Alliance, a group dedicated to turtle Conservation, describes the species as “vulnerable,” citing the combination of these dangers as contributing to the turtles’ decline.

According to court records, Ng was stopped just before entering the lake, which straddles the U.S.-Canada border. The turtles, known for their bright orange and yellow markings on dark brown shells, are a protected species. Eastern box turtles are highly valued on the black market, especially in China, where they can sell for up to $1,000 each. Ng now faces a serious penalty for her actions. She could be sentenced to as much as ten years in prison and fined up to $250,000.

Authorities were tipped off to Ng’s illegal activity by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. On the day of her arrest, Canadian authorities informed U.S. Border Patrol agents that two other people had launched an inflatable watercraft from the Canadian side of Lake Wallace. It turned out these individuals were Ng’s husband and another associate.

Lake Wallace, which serves as a border between the two countries, has a history of being used for smuggling activities. Besides human and narcotic smuggling, the federal government has seen an increase in cases involving the illegal trade of turtles. Over the past year, several individuals have been arrested for trying to export the protected creatures to China.

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