A Canadian man has been arrested after attempting to smuggle 51 live turtles taped to his legs and groin under his sweatpants across the US-Canada border in Detroit, Michigan. Federal prosecutors said Kai Xu was stopped by Canadian border patrol on 5 August after US Fish and Wildlife Service agents noticed 'irregularly shaped bulges' under his clothing.
The agents had been conducting a surveillance operation and saw Xu disappear behind two semi-trailers in a Detroit parking lot for about 10 minutes before reappearing with the bulges. He then drove through the Detroit-Windsor crossing into Ontario, where he was detained. The turtles were seized.
In a related case, Xu's accomplice Lihua Lin was arrested at Detroit Metropolitan Airport while trying to fly to Shanghai with two checked bags containing more than 200 live turtles, including the protected spotted turtle. Both men have been indicted on charges of illegal smuggling and violating the Endangered Species Act.
US Fish and Wildlife Service officials said there has been a rise in turtle smuggling, driven by demand in Asian food and collector markets. Ed Grace, deputy chief law enforcement officer, noted that some turtles can fetch between $1,300 and $1,500 each from end-collectors. The agency also warned that other North American animals, such as hummingbirds, rattlesnakes, and Gila monsters, are frequently targeted by poachers.
