On July 14, identified by a professional institution, 33 pieces of “turtle shells” seized by Xiamen Gaoqi Airport Customs were made from hawksbill turtle --- one of China's Class-Ⅱ Protected Animals. It is the first time over years for the Customs House to seize hawksbill turtle products.

A few days ago, a Chinese male passenger, arrived at Xiamen by flight MF868 from Djakarta and chose the “nothing-to-declare” channel. When exercising routine inspection, customs officers found out the turtle shells in this passenger's luggage, totaling 33 pieces. The passenger said that the things were “valueless” and that he bought them overseas at a very low price as “small souvenirs”. But, through professional identification, the so-called “small souvenirs” were made from hawksbill turtle enlisted into National Class-Ⅱ Protected Animals.

Hawksbill turtle, a kind of marine animal belonging to reptilian of cheloniidae, is an endangered animal enlisted in Appendix I of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) and in Red List of Endangered Species (critically endangered) of IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). Therefore, it is illegal to carry hawksbill turtle and its products inward or outward without official permission, with serious cases constituting the crime of smuggling.

Now, this case has been under anti-smuggling investigation. The Customs reminds Chinese travelers overseas not to buy endangered wildlife and related products like ivory, sea horse, and agilawood so as to avoid troubles.

Xiamen Customs seized 33 pieces of hawksbill turtle shells.