At Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, South China’s Guangdong Province, X-ray screening of a foreign passenger's carry-on luggage revealed the presence of live animals inside the baggage.

Upon inspection, Wang Pengcheng, a customs officer at the airport, said that they seized a large number of live turtles and crocodiles from the passenger's suitcase.

Among them were 34 turtles of varying sizes, with the largest being about the size of an adult's palm, Wang said. There were also two small crocodiles.

The passenger claimed to operate a pet store in the Middle East and intended to transport the animals back for breeding and commercial sale, the report said.

Identification confirmed the specimens included black pond turtles, map turtles, snapping turtles, and Siamese crocodiles. All species are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and are listed in its appendices, CCTV News said.

The endangered turtles and crocodiles have been transferred to a local aquatic wildlife rescue center for care and rehabilitation, according to the report.

In a similar case, customs officers at Shanghai Pudong International Airport recently discovered a large number of live turtles during inspection of the luggage of two inbound passengers who had selected the nothing-to-declare channel.

Subsequent physical examination revealed 47 radiated tortoises, local customs said.

Native to southern Madagascar, Mauritius, and Réunion Island in Africa, the radiated tortoise is listed in the CITES appendices and classified as a national first-class protected wildlife species in China.

The case has been handed over to the anti-smuggling department for further investigation.

In addition to live animals, some passengers have also been caught carrying products derived from endangered species. 

Recently, customs at Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport in Northeast China's Liaoning Province seized a large quantity of ivory, coral, and other endangered species products from the luggage of an arriving passenger.

The passenger carried two suitcases containing numerous ceramic jars stuffed with newspaper and plastic bags. Further unpacking revealed these contained a large assortment of jewelry, including necklaces, pendants, and rings, said Lan Qi, a customs officer at the airport.

Professional identification confirmed that these crafts and ornaments were made from endangered species, involving six in total: red coral, tridacna, hawksbill turtle, Asian elephant, African elephant, and sperm whale.

The passenger admitted to purchasing the items overseas with the intention of importing them for profit.

“This is the largest seizure of endangered species products by Dalian customs so far this year,” Lan said.

Global Times