Close X
Saturday, September 21, 2024
ADVT 
International

Canadian Man Charged With Turtle Smuggling Scheme Expected To Plead Guilty

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 01 Dec, 2015 11:28 AM
    ANN ARBOR, Mich. — A Canadian man caught with dozens of turtles inside his pants is getting snapped by the U.S. justice system.
     
    Kai Xu is expected to appear in federal court in Michigan on Tuesday to plead guilty in the smuggling case.
     
    He was arrested last year while returning to Windsor, Ont., with 51 live turtles stuffed down his pants.
     
    Agents say Xu ordered turtles online and would travel to the U.S. to pick them up or ship them to China, where they are worth much more.
     
    According to American court documents, officers with the Canada Border Services Agency intercepted Xu last August as he attempted to cross into Windsor from Detroit.
     
    Xu was found to have 41 live turtles strapped to his legs and 10 hidden between his legs, according to an affidavit from a special agent with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service which outlined the criminal complaint.
     
    Canadian authorities seized the turtles, which included North American varieties such as eastern box turtles, red-eared sliders and diamondback terrapins — some of which sell for $800 each — and turned them over to American officials.
     
    The investigation had started after a courier company in Detroit tipped the wildlife service to a package that had been shipped from Alabama addressed to Xu.
     
    According to the court documents, agents watched as Xu allegedly opened various boxes in the rear of his SUV, took out several round clear plastic containers, and placed their contents into plastic baggies. He also had packaging tape and scissors.
     
    "Special Agent (James) Fuller noticed irregularly shaped bulges under Xu's sweatpants on both his legs,'' the document states.
     
    Xu then drove toward Windsor, where he was stopped and the turtles found during a secondary inspection.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    Russia Pounds Islamic State Terrosits With 'For Paris' Bombs

    Russia Pounds Islamic State Terrosits With 'For Paris' Bombs
    Unverified images have been circulating on the internet of Syria-bound US missiles bearing the handwritten inscription "From Paris with love".

    Russia Pounds Islamic State Terrosits With 'For Paris' Bombs

    Harjit Sajjan Defends Refugee Plan, Says Government Is 'Mindful' Of Recent Attacks

    Harjit Sajjan Defends Refugee Plan, Says Government Is 'Mindful' Of Recent Attacks
    HALIFAX — Defence Minister is defending the Liberal government's plan to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees by the new year.

    Harjit Sajjan Defends Refugee Plan, Says Government Is 'Mindful' Of Recent Attacks

    Sikhs Visiting Pakistan For Guru Nanak's Birthday

    Sikhs Visiting Pakistan For Guru Nanak's Birthday
    Dozens of other Sikh pilgrims would arrive by air in Pakistan from different countries and then leave for Hasan Abdal town in Punjab province's Attock district.

    Sikhs Visiting Pakistan For Guru Nanak's Birthday

    Employee Of Quebec National Assembly Safe After Attack In Mali

    Employee Of Quebec National Assembly Safe After Attack In Mali
    Noemie Cimon-Mattar says Maxime Carrier-Legare was in the hotel but is now safe.

    Employee Of Quebec National Assembly Safe After Attack In Mali

    Obama Names Indian-Origin Swati Dandekar As Asian Development Bank Director

    Obama Names Indian-Origin Swati Dandekar As Asian Development Bank Director
    "I am confident that these experienced and hardworking individuals will help us tackle the important challenges facing America, and I am grateful for their service. I look forward to working with them," Obama said

    Obama Names Indian-Origin Swati Dandekar As Asian Development Bank Director

    Indian-Origin Student Aashrit Abhinav Sundar Awarded Presidential Scholarship In US

    Indian-Origin Student Aashrit Abhinav Sundar Awarded Presidential Scholarship In US
    An Indian-origin student has been awarded a presidential scholarship in a US college for outstanding academic merit and an exceptional commitment to the field of culinary arts.

    Indian-Origin Student Aashrit Abhinav Sundar Awarded Presidential Scholarship In US