NANNING, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- China's campaign cracking down on smuggling of endangered species since May in the border region with Vietnam has deterred trafficking.
The public security department in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region said police seized 8.825 tonnes of ivory, 70 live pangolins, 10.1 kg of rhino horns and a large number of other endangered species and products, during the campaign, which featured strengthening frontier blockade checks on entry roads on the border with Vietnam.
The large haul of smuggling is estimated to have a total value of 1.85 billion yuan (261 million U.S. dollars).
From May 31 to Aug. 5, Chinese police uncovered 10 major smuggling cases breaking up 10 smuggling gangs, which are involved in the transportation and sales of wildlife and wildlife products through express delivery and logistics channels in Guangxi.
Police said during the campaign, they stepped up inspection of key places such as farmers' markets, flower and bird markets and antique markets, and intensified the crackdown of criminal activities involving the sale of endangered species and products such as ivory through internet platforms, cutting off online sales channels.
Li Yue, deputy director of the regional public security department, said the department will step up overseas joint investigations, and overseas pursuit of fugitives and launch special cross-border operations with Vietnamese customs authorities to combat the smuggling of endangered species throughout the year.
Li said the department has established communication and exchange mechanisms with international non-governmental organizations such as the International Wildlife Conservation Society, to share resources and information for clues on the smuggling activities of endangered species.
