Gongbei Customs said in a statement on Friday that its officers have recently intercepted a male smuggler from Macau at Zhuhai’s Gongbei checkpoint, as they found he had 116 live terrapins in the plastic carrier bag he was carrying when he entered Zhuhai from Macau through the “nothing to declare” channel.
According to the statement, customs officers intercepted the man acting suspiciously while walking past the X-ray machine for luggage inspection on June 29.
The 116 turtles found in black mesh bags inside the plastic carrier bag he was carrying were of similar appearance, and they were confirmed to be 116 Mexican musk turtles (Staurotypus triporcatus), which are endangered species mainly found in Mexico and other parts of North America, the statement said.
According to the statement, the terrapins are listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and the Gongbei customs will transfer the turtles to the Zhuhai agriculture authorities.
Gongbei Customs stressed that carrying or mailing endangered species and their products to the mainland must be approved by the relevant administrative department in advance. Their owners must hold an import certificate and take the initiative to declare the animals to customs officers, as otherwise the border crossers face legal action by the judicial authorities.
The statement did not reveal the purpose of smuggling the terrapins from Macau to the mainland.
Terrapins are a group of several species of turtles living in fresh or brackish water.
This undated handout photo provided by the Gongbei Customs on Friday shows the smuggled endangered terrapins.
