Largest number of bear paws seized by customs  

滿洲里破中國最大熊掌走私案 兩俄籍嫌犯被收審

17日，記者從內蒙古滿洲里海關獲悉，5月22日，在該關公路口岸一輛進境俄籍客車的輪胎中查獲熊掌213只，這是迄今為止中國最大的走私熊掌案件，經鑒定，213只熊掌皆為棕熊熊掌。[查看全文]

Manzhouli (CNS) -- A total of 213 wild bear paws hidden in a vehicle by two Russian nationals were seized Monday by customs police in Manzhouli, a border city in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

It is the biggest seizure of smuggled paws ever made by Chinese customs, according to local customs authorities.

Police said the smugglers looked intense and suspicious during the regular border check on May 22. Customs officials then conducted an inspection and found the paws stuffed inside the van's wheels and spare tire.

The smugglers have been detained by police.

An initial investigation found that the paws may come from the brown bear, a nationally protected animal in China.

The seized bear paws will be burned or transferred to the forestry department, police said.