Officials nab Canadian man trying to cross border with 51 turtles in his pants

Red Alert Politics ^ | 9-26-2014 | Erin Mundahl

[smoothsailing]

September 26, 2014

Officials nab Canadian man trying to cross border with 51 turtles in his pants

Erin Mundahl

Using information gained from an anonymous tip, U.S. authorities detained a man this summer after noticing ‘irregularly shaped bulges’ in his sweatpants. But this wasn’t the Underwear Bomber 2.0. Instead, a Canadian man had taped 51 live turtles to his legs and groin and was attempting to smuggle them across the border, The Guardian reported.

Kai Xu and his accomplice Lihua Lin were nabbed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife agents near the Detroit border crossing, where the two were attempting to cross into Windsor, Canada. Agents were tipped off by a Detroit UPS employee named “Dave” who contacted the fish and wildlife service and told them to be on the lookout for a seven-pound box labelled, “Live fish keep cool.”

In a dramatic turn of events not often seen in the world of wildlife management, agents put Xu under surveillance on Aug. 5 and observed him hiding behind two semi-truck trailers for around 10 minutes before reappearing with “irregularly shaped bulges under Xu’s sweatpants on both legs,” according to The Guardian.

While Xu was attempting to cross into Canada, Lin was caught at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, where he was trying to board a plane for Shanghai with two checked bags crammed with more than 200 turtles.

U.S. officials told the Guardian that turtle smuggling has increased over the past year due to increased demand in Asian food markets and from collectors.

“These turtles, by the time they get to the end-collector, they can be worth anywhere from $1,300 to $1,500 a turtle,” said Ed Grace, a deputy chief law enforcement officer with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

[smoothsailing]

Teenage Mutant Groin Turtles

[skinkinthegrass]

"regular"then it's a Common Snapper...
*facepalm!* ..shoulda noticed, the Carapace is flatter,
the A. Snap. has a much higher Carapace w/3 ridges.

[acapesket]

We saw a Leatherback turtle off the coast of Oak Bluffs last week that weighed a 1000 lbs, was 7 feet wide, and was just an a awesome sight, course by the time we could right the boat, almost got too close to the magnificent bugger, we scared him off and iPhone was down below!
Looked it up.. injured Leatherback released off the coast in Harwich.Ma many miles away. That one had been tagged, this one was huge mo …Glad my hubby is so observant!

No pics..I am a lame-O…An amazing sight to belold!

[Paul R.]

Ditto: There is certainly no shortage of turtles at most of the places I fish. In fact, if one is going after bluegill or catfish with live bait (etc.) the turtles can be a big annoyance. In some states around me that I know of, softshelled turtles and ordinary snappers are legal to take (harvest) in large numbers (usually with a commercial permit), with other species limited to several individuals per year depending on the species and state. Other states are more restrictive - for example, I believe IL limits common snappers to 2 per day with a 4 turtle possession limit, and I did not see specifically in the regs what IL says about other species.

But, what the heck, turtle farming could be quite lucrative, it seems to me... Just feed ‘em chopped Asian Carp!! (There’s a delicious irony somewhere in that!)

[skinkinthegrass]

CUTE!
..wait till they start eatin' Pizza

[TruthWillWin]

Do you have turtles in your pants or you just happy to see me?

[skinkinthegrass]

In Pay-for-fishin' Lakes and Cattle ponds, they are
a real nuisance..and they do travel (slowly).

[cripplecreek]

A painted turtle can get pretty big if they live long enough. I took this pic a week or so back of a monster compared to average sized ones.

[skinkinthegrass]

I understand that..any turtle 84" long. *YIKES!*

[Repeal The 17th]

OK
So me and you manage to gather us up a sack full of turtles
and we manage to sneak across the Canookian border with them...
How do we hook up with a buyer?

[potlatch]

[..wait till they start eatin’ Pizza ]

Yeah, it’ll make that Salmonella taste sooo good!! hehe

[Paul R.]

Hahahaha! I’ve seen that happen “in the wild” too:

“Hey! (hey) You! (you) Get off of my log...”

(Due credit to the Rolling Stones.)

[skinkinthegrass]

I love 'em all..esp. False Map Turtles.
..shall never eat turtle soup (willingly).

[smoothsailing]

HA! See post #13

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3208339/posts?page=13#13

B^)

[skinkinthegrass]

"Why? ...You don't like "Gravy"? Sonny!
go on, fetch me some TN Whiskey!"

[potlatch]

I’m not a Sonny, I’m a ‘girlie’ - but the rest of it sounds ok.

[skinkinthegrass]

A local creek, has a "profusion" of C. Snappers.
They've been busy..not too many, Paints/Earred. d:-(

[skinkinthegrass]

Sorry, Ma'am. I presumed too much..
enjoy the whiskey! and admiring "the turtles".

[potlatch]

Lol, and with that I’m heading off for some sleep and no dreaming of turtles!!

[Intolerant in NJ]

Will they stop at nothing???......