As many as 39 pieces of ivory and 4,700 ivory handicrafts have been confiscated, customs said, adding most of the smugglers were Chinese businessmen, workers and visitors returning from Africa.

At the Pudong International Airport this June, a Chinese passenger was caught attempting to smuggle dozens of ivory handicrafts by hiding them in two milk powder cans, and another was found hiding two pieces of ivory in his luggage last month.

According to international trade conventions and Chinese laws on wildlife protection, African elephants are listed as a rare species. No elephant-related products are allowed to be traded, carried or posted through China Customs without licenses from the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Enditem

(Xinhua News Agency 09/30/2001)