Over 500 crocodile products seized in South China

NANNING - Border police in southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region said Monday they had seized 537 products made from Siamese crocodiles, a protected species.

The products, including 370 pieces of crocodile skin, 90 tails and 77 specimens, were detected on a logistics vehicle attempting to cross the China-Vietnam border in early March.

The police thoroughly examined the vehicle after noticing that its goods were unusually placed. The driver also failed to provide official document for transporting the products.

The skins were around 43 centimeters wide and at least 1.2 meters long apiece. The longest specimen was nearly two meters long.

Siamese crocodiles are a critically endangered species native to Southeast Asia. Their skin is used as a raw material for luxury leather products on the international market. In China, it is illegal to raise them without a license or to trade and traffic them.