On July 21, in Gongbei Customs District, Zhakou Customs House seized a small specimen of Siamese crocodile inward, which is enlisted into China's Class-I Protected Animals.

At 16:00 that day, Customs officers noticed an abnormal scanned image of an inward luggage, seeming like some reptile. By inspection, Ms Huang, the luggage owner, took out a well-packed item and unpacked it to show a small crocodile model with light weight, seeming like a plastic handicraft. But meticulous officers found out distinct stitching in its abdomen, not in line with craft molding characteristics. Besides, the officers found a suspected Export Certificate of Thailand, which identified the animal Siamese crocodile, one of the endangered animals in AppendixⅠof CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) as well as restricted in entry and banned from exit by China.

According to Ms Huang, this specimen crocodile was bought by herself in Thailand as a tourist souvenir. The Customs reminds that illegal import, export or smuggling of endangered wildlife and related products will be punished in accordance with the Customs Law and, in serious cases, will be subject to criminal prosecution.

The first time Gongbei Customs seized a Siamese crocodile Specimen.

Siamese crocodile specimen seized by luggage control