Illegal turtle exports expose black market demand. Between August 2023 and November 2024, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement led investigation with assistance from federal partner agencies intercepted 222 packages containing approximately 850 eastern box turtles and three-toed box turtles. Many of the turtles were discovered bound in socks and concealed in boxes falsely labeled as “plastic animal toys.” Both species, prized in domestic and international pet markets for their vivid, colorful markings, are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), a designation prompted by decades of illegal trade. In addition to these shipments, the subject also sent 11 more parcels filled with other reptiles, including venomous snakes. Wildlife smuggling is not only illegal, but also incredibly cruel. Turtles caught in this illegal trade often suffer severe injuries, such as broken shells, and endure extreme ...