A woman from China, Wan Yee Ng, pleaded guilty to attempting to smuggle 29 eastern box species turtles US into Canada.
Ng, the 41-year-old woman, was arrested on June 28 after being spotted by US Border Patrol agents at Lake Wallace in Vermont, close to the Canadian border.
Each Turtle Are Valued At $1,000
Ng was found carrying the turtles, each wrapped in socks, inside a duffle bag.
Eastern box turtles are highly valued on the Chinese black market, with a reported price of $1,000 each.
Evidence from her cell phone revealed that she planned to smuggle the turtles into Canada, with the ultimate aim of selling them in Hong Kong.
Ng Will Be Sentenced in December
Ng, originally from Hong Kong and living in Canada, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawfully attempting to export the turtles from the US.
She is scheduled for sentencing in December and faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
