A Chinese man is facing up to five years in prison in the United States after pleading guilty to smuggling hundreds of protected turtles to Hong Kong — with the animals hidden in socks.

According to the US Department of Justice, between August 2023 and November 2024, 39-year-old Wei Qiang Lin shipped over 200 parcels containing around 850 turtles. The boxes were falsely labelled as “plastic animal toys” to avoid detection.

The turtles — mostly eastern box turtles and three-toed box turtles — are native to the US and protected under international wildlife trade laws. Highly valued in parts of China as status-symbol pets due to their unique shell markings, they can sell for thousands of dollars each.

Authorities estimate the seized turtles had a combined market value of $1.4 million. Lin was caught when US border officers intercepted one of his shipments. Investigations also revealed that he had sent 11 other packages containing reptiles, including venomous snakes.

The eastern box turtle is listed as “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Trade in the species requires special permits, which Lin did not have.

He is scheduled for sentencing on December 23 and could face up to five years behind bars.

In a similar case earlier this year, another Chinese national was sentenced to 30 months in prison for smuggling over 2,000 turtles wrapped in socks, hidden in boxes labelled as containing snacks.