Chinese customs seizes over 300 kg of smuggled ivory

NANJING -- Customs authorities in Nanjing, capital of eastern China's Jiangsu province, have busted an ivory smuggling ring, arresting three suspects and seizing more than 300 kg of ivory and ivory products.

Nanjing customs received information at the end of last year that a gang was smuggling ivory into the city of Changzhou in Jiangsu for carving and processing.

On Feb 24, the customs police busted three suspects who were trading ivory and seized 34 pieces of ivory and 39 ivory products on the spot with a total weight of more than 300 kg, valued at 11.3 million yuan (about $1.6 million).

A suspect surnamed Dai said he had colluded with a gang on China's southwest border to smuggle ivory into China. An initial police investigation showed Dai had smuggled more than 560 kg of ivory.

China banned all domestic ivory trade at the end of 2017 as part of its commitment to protecting wild animals.