Busted | Canadian man caught trying to smuggle 1,007 turtles to China

One of 750 Diamondback terrrapin turtles seized by US authorities at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport. (Jennine Miller/Detroit Zoo)

A Canadian man was arrested at a Detroit, Michigan airport trying to smuggle more than 1,000 turtles to China.

The man was allegedly caught trying to board a plane to Shanghai last week.

The turtles were stuffed into rubber snow boots and cereal boxes inside his luggage.

US authorities found 1,007 turtles — the majority juvenile hatchlings less than a month old — including more than 750 diamondback terrapins, red-necked pond turtles, spotted turtles, wood turtles, Blanding’s turtles, red-eared sliders and African spur-thighed tortoises, in the man's luggage.

The turtles were sent to the Detroit Zoo.

"It isn't surprising that some are not doing well given the way they were smuggled," said Scott Carter with the Detroit Zoo. "Most are not of conservation concern, but some are endangered species."

CBC