Photo: China's General Administration of Customs

A man surnamed Liang was caught entering the Chinese mainland with a backpack carrying a six-kilogram exotic tortoise, according to China's General Administration of Customs on Tuesday.

Liang from Macao entered the border on July 23 through the green channel at Gongbei Port, where customs officers discovered that he was carrying a conspicuously heavy and unusual backpack, attempting to bypass the X-ray machine inspection. 

The port officers were quick to intercept him.

The officers found a large living turtle with yellowish-brown dorsal armor and obvious annual ring-like texture in his backpack, which was about 40 centimeters in length and weighed six kilograms. The man was unable to provide legal documents, resulting in customs temporarily detaining the live turtle in accordance with the law.

Following identification by a professional organization on July 28, the large live tortoise intercepted by customs was confirmed to be an African spurred tortoise, which is an endangered and exotic species.

The live turtle will be handed over to relevant local authorities in accordance with the law. Customs reminded the public that no foreign species shall be introduced without authorization according to relevant regulations, and it is prohibited to bring or send live animals into the Chinese mainland. In case of violation of the regulations, customs will pursue legal responsibility according to the law.

Global Times