Off the wire
• Full text: Report on China's economic, social development plan (14)  • Full text: Report on China's economic, social development plan (15)  • Close to 155,000 maritime migrants reach EU in 2016  • Full text: Report on China's economic, social development plan (12)  • Full text: Report on China's economic, social development plan (13)  • Full text: Report on China's economic, social development plan (10)  • Full text: Report on China's economic, social development plan (11)  • Georgian parliament leader reiterates EU, NATO bid  • Key defendant in Greek Golden Dawn party trial released from custody  • Full text: Report on China's economic, social development plan (9)  
You are here: 　 Home

China customs unveil largest ever python skin smuggling case

Xinhua, March 18, 2016 Adjust font size:

Customs officials from the southern province of Hainan announced on Friday they have seized 68,000 pieces of python skins worth 310 million yuan (48 million U.S. dollars).

A total of 16 suspects were caught in a raid in five cities of Hainan, Fujian and Guangxi on Jan. 29, according to the customs of Haikou, capital of Hainan.

A local company is alleged to have obtained a wild animal import license to produce folk instruments, but smuggled python skins from Vietnam since 2014, according to the customs.

The company is also alleged to have made false customs declarations to avoid taxes of 11 million yuan.

Pythons are protected in China. Import of python skin is tightly controlled by the government and needs a license.

The case is still under investigation. Endi