HK seizes massive haul of smuggled pangolin scales  

香港海關(guān)破獲近五年最大宗走私穿山甲鱗片案件

據(jù)香港有線寬頻新聞、香港無線電視新聞報道，香港港口及海域科貨柜貨物組檢查指揮官王維雄16日表示，檢獲的穿山甲鱗片分多個麻包袋裝著，重3300多公斤，估計鱗片會賣到東南亞，黑市價每公斤約5000元。[查看全文]

Hong Kong (CNS) – More than 3.3 tons of pangolin scales worth HK$17 million have been found in two shipping containers that arrived in Hong Kong from Africa.

It's the biggest seizure of its kind in five years, a customs spokesperson said on Monday.

The two batches of pangolin scales were not declared on the manifests, a customs officer said.

One ton of scales were found via scanner in a container officially containing plastic waste from Kenya. Another 2.34 tons were found in a container from Cameroon, ostensibly carrying timber, the officer said.

The two hauls are believed to have come from the same smuggling group and were bound for Southeast Asia, where prices on the black market have soared to HK$5,000 per kilogram.

Pangolins, which are under second-class state protection in China, are often smuggled because their meat is a delicacy and their scales are believed to have medical qualities.