A federal grand jury in Vermont indicted Wan Yee Ng, a 41-year-old woman from Hong Kong, on charges of attempting to smuggle eastern box turtles, a protected wildlife species, from the United States to Canada for the illegal global pet trade.
Ng is charged with attempting to export merchandise contrary to law. Her arraignment date is yet to be scheduled.
According to an affidavit filed with the criminal complaint, Ng, a Chinese national residing in Canada, was brought to the attention of the United States Border Patrol at the Beecher Falls Station in Canaan, Vermont.
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She had repeatedly rented the same Vermont residence on Lake Wallace, a location known for human and narcotic smuggling. Additionally, Ng’s husband was renting a separate property on the Canadian side of the lake.
On the morning of June 26, 2024, agents observed Ng preparing an inflatable kayak and carrying a duffle bag from the rented residence to the water’s edge. Concurrently, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police reported that two individuals, including a person believed to be Ng’s spouse, had launched an inflatable watercraft from the Canadian side of Lake Wallace and were paddling south towards the United States. Agents intercepted Ng before she could leave the shore, suspecting smuggling activity.
Upon inspection of her duffle bag, agents found 29 turtles, individually wrapped in socks to protect their shells and prevent movement. A United States Fish and Wildlife Special Agent identified the turtles as eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina Carolina).
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The eastern box turtle, native to forested regions of the eastern United States and some isolated populations in the Midwest, is protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The United States and Canada are signatories to this agreement, which aims to protect species at risk of extinction. Smuggling such wildlife violates international protocols, jeopardizes conservation efforts, and often results in poor health and disease risks for the confiscated animals.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains only allegations and that Ng is presumed innocent until proven guilty. If convicted, Ng faces up to 10 years in prison. The actual sentence will be determined by the Court, following the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and statutory sentencing factors.
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United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigatory efforts of the United States Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as their cooperation with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
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