A woman has recently pleaded guilty to attempting to smuggle turtles across a Vermont lake into Canada by kayak. The incident occurred on June 23, 2020 when the woman was caught with bags filled with 27 live turtles, including some endangered species, and six bags of their eggs. The woman was intercepted by Border Patrol agents as she paddled across the lake towards the Canadian border.
The woman, identified as a Chinese citizen who had been living in Canada, confessed to attempting to transport the turtles across the border for the purpose of selling them. She admitted to being aware of the illegal nature of her actions and pleaded guilty to violating the Mascot Act, which protects certain species of turtles from being collected, possessed, or transported.
According to reports, the woman was working with a wildlife trafficker who had instructed her to collect and transport the turtles. The trafficker had arranged for her to meet a buyer in Canada who would purchase the turtles for a significant amount of money. However, the woman was intercepted before she could complete the transaction.
The woman now faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a $200,000 fine, and a term of supervised release. She is scheduled to be sentenced in April and could potentially face deportation back to China after serving her sentence.
This incident sheds light on the illegal wildlife trade and the need for stricter enforcement of wildlife protection laws. Authorities are urging the public to report any suspicious activities related to the smuggling of protected species to help prevent further incidents like this one.
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