Recently, Jinan Customs launched “JN1602”joint campaign, seizing over 2800 pieces of inward butterfly specimens suspected of smuggling. Through identification by a relevant agency under Yunnan Endangered Species Scientific Committee, the 1180 pieces therein belong to the protected species enlisted in appendix II of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). Now, 4 criminal suspects have been captured, one of them arrested and the other three restricted on bail. This is the biggest endangered butterfly specimen smuggling case seized by China Customs sinceChinasigned the CITES convention.
Through investigation, since the first half of 2015, the suspect surnamed Xu and his associates made online orders from abroad and smuggled inward specimens of endangered butterflies through mail. From January 25 to March 7, 2016, Jinan Customs seized 5 batches of smuggled butterfly specimens, 847 pieces in total. Afterwards, the Customs seized over 2000 pieces suspected of inward smuggling.
Since its accession to CITES in 1981,Chinahas shouldered great responsibility for protecting and managing the wild animals and plants enlisted in appendix I and II of the Convention. In China, only with Import/Export Permit from the State Office for Import and Export of Endangered Species, the wild animals and plants and their products enlisted in CITES can be imported or exported. Without such permission, the arbitrary import or export seized by the Customs will be punished administratively or even criminally.
Endangered butterfly specimens inward seized by Jinan Customs
Endangered butterfly specimens inward seized by Jinan Customs