With the Spring Festival approaching, more and more Chinese citizens like to travel abroad and bring some “souvenirs” back, but not all “souvenirs” are permitted to come in. Recently, Hangzhou Customs seized an eaglewood (aquilaria sinensis) from within an inward passenger’s luggage, and the wood longest part reached 61.5 cm and widest part reached 33cm, totally weighing 3.76kg.

Eaglewood, also known as agalloch, belongs to China’s Class-II Endangered Rare Plants and is listed in Appendix II of the “Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora” (CITES), restricted at entry and forbidden from exit. Eaglewood is a valuable plant for medical use. However, the natural wood has been rare due to overcutting activities, such wood has become a “hot cake” for many passengers.

Hangzhou Customs reminds that items such as eaglewood, ivory, giant clam and hawksbill belong to endangered animals and plants, so anyone who carries, posts, or consigns them and their products must have the Import/Export Permit issued by either the National Endangered Species Import/Export Management Office or its local branches and must declare to the Customs in advance.

A 3.76kg eaglewood seized by Customs officers