Chinese customs seized 7.48 tonnes of smuggled¹ ivory during an operation on March 30, the General Administration of Customs (GAC) said in a press release Monday.

 

中国海关总署周一在新闻发布会上表示，3月30日中国海关缴获7.48吨走私象牙。
 

 

It is the largest seizure² of smuggled elephant tusks³ by Chinese customs in recent years, the GAC said. An international ivory smuggling⁴ criminal gang was destroyed during the operation.

 

So far this year, Chinese customs has seized 8.48 tonnes of ivory and ivory products and 500.5 tonnes of endangered species in 182 smuggling cases involving 171 suspects, according to the press release.

 

Meanwhile, police have strengthened efforts to crack down on the smuggling of endangered species. More than 200 items of smuggled ivory products and over 830 kilograms of other endangered species have been seized through border controls since 2018, said the Ministry⁵ of Public Security.

 

Police have also intensified⁶ the hunt for fugitive⁷ smugglers overseas. So far this year, two fugitives⁸ involved in a high-profile ivory smuggling case, were arrested and repatriated⁹ from Nigeria and another in a separate case from Vietnam after fleeing overseas for eight years.

 

In the past three years, police have assisted customs authorities in capturing 18 fugitives suspected of smuggling elephant tusks and other endangered species, the ministry said.

 

China has imposed a complete ban on ivory trade for commercial purposes starting Jan. 1, 2018, as part of its commitment to protecting wild animals.

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