A Hong Kong man was indicted by a U.S. federal grand jury on Friday for allegedly shipping protected eastern box turtles overseas to China to be placed on the black market.
A Hong Kong man was indicted by a federal grand jury on Friday for allegedly smuggling eastern box turtles – which are a protected wildlife species – from the U.S. to China, to be put on the black market. The Department of Justice announced that 53-year-old Sai Keung Tin of Hong Kong has been charged with four counts of exporting merchandise contrary to law. Although Tin was indicted on Friday, he was arrested at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City on Feb. 25.
The allegations included in the affidavit filed with the criminal complaint against Tin claim he was an associate of Kang Juntao of Hangzhou City, China. Juntao is a convicted felon and international turtle smuggler who recruited turtle poachers and suppliers in the U.S. to assist with shipping turtles to middlemen. The middlemen would then bundle the turtles with other packages and send them to Hong Kong.
In March 2019, Kang pleaded guilty to money laundering after being extradited from Malaysia and was sentenced to 38 months in federal prison. Federal authorities continue to intercept packages to Tin and others, despite Kang’s conviction. If Tin is found guilty of the crimes, he faces up to 10 years in prison for each smuggling count.
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