Source: OT-Team(G), 北京青年报
A foreign traveler's suitcase drew suspicion — and what officers found inside was shocking: dozens of live turtles and baby crocodiles, many of them endangered.
According to the General Administration of Customs of China on July 12, Guangzhou Customs recently intercepted a foreign traveler attempting to illegally transport endangered live animals out of the country through the passenger inspection channel at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport.
Customs officers stationed at Baiyun Airport discovered anomalies in the luggage of a male foreign national during routine inspections of an outbound flight. X-ray imaging revealed the presence of animals resembling turtles and crocodiles inside his bags.
Upon further inspection, officers found live turtles and crocodiles wrapped in mesh bags and plastic containers. A total of 34 live turtles of varying sizes—some as large as an adult human palm—along with two juvenile crocodiles were seized on site.
Following expert identification, the 34 turtles were classified into several species: 10 Black Pond Turtles, 10 species of Graptemys (map turtles), 10 Macrochelys (alligator snapping turtles), 2 Cyclemys (Asian leaf turtles), and 2 species of Chelidae (side-necked turtles). The two crocodiles were identified as juvenile Siamese crocodiles. Among these, the Black Pond Turtle, Graptemys species, Macrochelys species, and Siamese crocodile are all listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendices as protected species.
Customs authorities remind the public that, under the Customs Law of the People's Republic of China and the Regulations on the Administration of the Import and Export of Endangered Wild Fauna and Flora, it is illegal to trade, carry, or mail endangered species and their products across borders without valid permits issued by national authorities. Violators may face severe legal consequences, including criminal prosecution for serious offenses.
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