A Hong Kong woman was caught for trying to smuggle 29 protected turtles from the United States to Canada.
Wan Yee Ng, 41, pleaded guilty Friday in U.S. District Court in Burlington, Vermont, to one count of attempting to smuggle eastern box turtles from Vermont to Canada.
Eastern box turtles are a protected species in Vermont as well as Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan and New Hampshire.
According to an affidavit, Ng was arrested on June 28 at an Airbnb in Canaan, Vermont.
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An endangered male box turtle named “Tank” who lives at the Franklin Park Zoo. (John Wilcox/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images)
Police said the 41-year-old was caught red-handed as she loaded her inflatable kayak to head to the Canadian side of Lake Wallace.
Police said they were informed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police that two other people, including Ng's alleged husband, began paddling an inflatable watercraft from the Canadian side of the lake toward the United States
The affidavit said authorities said she had 29 box turtles in a duffel bag wrapped in socks.
Box turtle, Fairfax, Virginia. (Robert Knopes/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Eastern box turtles have been known to sell on the Chinese black market for $1,000 each, the affidavit said.
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During the investigation, police confiscated her cell phone and revealed that she had attempted to smuggle the turtles into Canada so that they could eventually sell them for profit in Hong Kong.
Robert Knopes/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images (Robert Knopes/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Ng pleaded guilty Friday to one count of unlawfully attempting to export and distribute 29 eastern box turtles from the United States, in violation of the law.
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She has been in custody since her arrest in June and will remain in custody until her sentencing. Her sentencing is scheduled for December 13th. She faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business.
Story tips and ideas can be sent to [email protected] and to X: @s_rumpfwhitten.