SHANGHAI, May 10 (Xinhua) -- Customs in eastern China's Shanghai city had a surge in busting smuggling cases involving endangered animals and products in the first four months of this year, local customs authorities announced Friday.
A total of 92 illegal smuggling cases were reported in the port city from January to April, 10 times that of last year, according to Li Qing, an official with Shanghai Customs.
Customs has seized over 10 kg of ivory products, 316 kg of pangolin scales and 518 tonnes of precious red sandalwood as well as hawksbill turtle specimens and dried sea horses, among others, Li added.
Illegal smuggling is often carried out on a relatively small scale by tourists, Chinese workers working or living overseas or small parcels. Most of the smuggled products came from Nigeria, Britain, Italy, Japan and some Southeast Asian countries.
China has been intensifying its efforts in wildlife protection over the years. On Dec. 31, 2016, China declared it would enforce a complete stop to its domestic ivory trade within a year. On Dec. 31, 2017, processing or selling ivory and its products were officially banned in China as part of its commitment to protecting wild animals.
