Man Caught With 50 Turtles Strapped To Body At Detroit-Windsor Tunnel Charged With Smuggling

DETROIT (AP/WWJ) - A Canadian man has been charged after border agents at the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel found more than 50 live turtles strapped to his body and hidden between his legs.

The Detroit News reports that Windsor, Ontario, resident Kai Xu was charged Wednesday with smuggling, illegal trading and exporting. A bond hearing was scheduled Thursday in federal court in Detroit.

A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agent received a tip about a large box sent to a Detroit postal center. Court documents say it was addressed to Xu and mailed from Alabama. Agents were watching the postal center on Aug. 5 when Xu arrived.

The turtles were found after Xu's SUV re-crossed the border and was stopped in Windsor.

It wasn't immediately clear if Xu has a lawyer.

This incident follows a similar one last year in which another Canadian man was caught trying to smuggle 70 live turtles and tortoises into the U.S. over the Ambassador Bridge. In July, 2013, Xin Hong Tong of Windsor was charged with smuggling, non-reporting, making false statements and attempting to evade duties and taxes in that case.

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