Customs hits ivory smuggling rings

Customs officers from Guangzhou, Guangdong province, have seized more than 178 kilograms of smuggled endangered animals and their products after cracking down on 111 smuggling cases since the beginning of the year.

Meanwhile, a major criminal gang and a special smuggling channel that used to be active in smuggling endangered animals and their products into Guangdong from abroad have been busted, said Zheng Jun, deputy director of the Guangzhou Customs' anti-smuggling bureau.

"The endangered animals and their products seized this year included ivory and its products, rhinoceros horns, pangolin scales, dried sea horses, red coral and hawksbill turtles," Zheng said.