Forest police in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region intercepted over 790 kilograms ivory worth 36 million yuan from a truck headed toward Nanning on Wednesday.

Forest police of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region captured over 790 kilograms ivory worth 36 million yuan, March 19, 2008. [Photo: cnsphoto]

It was the largest amount of smuggled ivory ever confiscated in the region, China News Service reported.

Police found more than ten crates of ivory covered with crumbs, for a total of over 270 sections from 139 complete tusks, one of which is 1.83 meters long.

Chang Min, team leader of the forest police, said the force sent police out to patrol three coastal sites, Qinzhou, Beihai and Fangchenggang, after receiving a tip on the smuggling case.

Early Wednesday morning, police captured the suspect truck on the Nanning-Youyiguan Highway near Nanning.

The police deduced that the ivory was smuggled in from overseas. The truck driver is a resident of Fangchenggang. The case is still under investigation.

The truck driver in the ivory smuggling case is arrested, March 19, 2008. [Photo: cnsphoto]

(CR IMarch 20, 2008)