More than 3,300 live tortoises smuggled from Hong Kong were seized in Guangdong, customs in the southern province announced Friday.
The tortoises, which weighed 86 kilograms in total, were discovered by Huanggang Customs in Shenzhen at about 1 a.m. Thursday, said Wang Shaowen, an official with the customs office.
The truck had been declared "empty" but when it was inspected a hidden compartment was discovered, which was where the tortoises were concealed.
The truck driver said he was carrying the tortoises "for someone else," Wang said.
The tortoises are in quarantine while the investigation continues.
