Man sentenced to nine months in prison in China's first criminal case for illegally introducing invasive species

Photo: Screenshot from the WeChat account of the Zhuhai Intermediate People's Court

A man who attempted to bring a shipment of 1,760 red-eared sliders into mainland China has been sentenced to nine months in prison and fined 100,000 yuan ($14,151) for illegally introducing invasive species, a court in Zhuhai, southern China's Guangdong province, announced on Thursday, the first criminal case in the country involving the illegal introduction of invasive foreign species.

According to a statement from the Zhuhai Intermediate People's Court posted on its official WeChat account, the male defendant surnamed Yi said in court that he would accept the court's decision and would not appeal.

The 1,760 red-eared slider turtles were confiscated, news portal The Paper reported on Thursday.

On October 21, 2022, Yi entered the country by vehicle through the Zhuhai Port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and did not register with customs. Customs officials conducted a regular inspection of the vehicle he was driving in accordance with legal regulations.

Customs officials discovered a shipment of turtles, believed to be red-eared sliders, hidden in the gap between the vehicle's sunroof and sun visor, as well as in a converted compartment under the armrest. After being caught by customs officials at the port, Yi was unable to provide valid quarantine documents for the animals, according to The Paper.

Further investigation revealed that the animals included 1,760 red-eared slider turtles, which China classifies as an invasive alien species. The turtles were valued at about 88,000 yuan.

Prosecutors called for Yi to be held criminally responsible for the crime of illegally introducing invasive alien species.

Public information indicates that the red-eared slider is named for the distinctive red stripes on either side of its head. It is native to the southern United States and northeastern Mexico. Due to its strong adaptability and reproductive capabilities, it has been classified as an invasive alien species by China, according to The Paper.

The court ruled that Yi's actions constituted the crime of illegally introducing invasive species. Since Yi is a repeat offender, he should receive a harsher punishment under the law. However, Yi truthfully confessed to his crimes, voluntarily pleaded guilty, accepted the punishment, and paid the fine after being tried, which the court said allows for a lighter punishment under the law.

Global times