A Calgary resident, Zhongmin Zheng, aged 42, has been penalized with a hefty fine of $35,000 for his involvement in the illegal importation and sale of live turtles, turtle eggs, and turtle husbandry items. This incident unfolded two years after border officials intercepted packages labeled as “children’s building blocks” containing live turtles at a Canada Post mail center in Mississauga, Ontario.
Zheng confessed to two charges under the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of Interprovincial Trade Act last week, following an investigation that exposed the turtle smuggling operation. The turtles were discreetly marked with UV ink, and an undercover wildlife officer disguised as a Canada Post employee played a crucial role in unveiling the racket.
The discovery of the illicit shipment on May 24, 2022, triggered a chain of events that led to the revelation of Zheng’s illegal activities. The packages, originating from China and addressed to Zheng’s residence in Calgary, contained a range of turtle-related items, including live turtles, eggs, stickers, and equipment for turtle care.
Subsequent scrutiny of the packages unveiled a disturbing sight – some packages housed freshly hatched turtles, while one contained a deceased turtle. None of the shipments bore the necessary permits from Canada or China, prompting Environment Canada officers to intervene.
In an attempt to bring Zheng to justice, investigators applied unique identification numbers to each turtle and egg using UV ink, visible only under UV light. With the cooperation of Canada Post, a controlled delivery operation was orchestrated, resulting in Zheng’s arrest at his residence in Scenic Acres, Calgary.
Upon executing a search warrant at Zheng’s home, investigators uncovered a distressing scene – 53 live turtles, 33 eggs, and two deceased turtles were found in unsanitary conditions in the basement. The seized turtles and eggs were subsequently transferred to the Calgary Zoo for rehabilitation and care.
Further revelations indicated that Zheng had been actively selling turtles through Kijiji ads, with prices ranging from $100 to $300 per turtle. The investigation also uncovered Zheng’s admission to the illegal nature of selling snapping turtles and his acknowledgment of previous turtle fatalities due to various issues.
Following a plea arrangement facilitated by his legal representatives, Zheng was granted three years to settle his $35,000 fine and was prohibited from owning any live animals for a period of two years. The Calgary Zoo retained some of the rescued turtles, while others were donated to a sanctuary in Ontario..
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