The customs authority in Fuzhou city announced on Nov 27 that they had captured a ring engaged in smuggling organs of endangered animals in August.

A tiger skin seized by Fuzhou Customs officers who busted a smuggling ring in Fuzhou in August. [Photo/Xinhua]

The list included 124 ivories, 1 rhino horn, and a tiger skin, worth a total of more than 1.5 million yuan ($244,000)

The ring has three members – a woman surnamed Hu, her husband surnamed Yu and her uncle surnamed Zhang, said customs officers.

The couple, who perennially reside in Britain, got involved in the smuggling in 2012. They would buy precious animal products at a much lower price and transport or mail them to Zhang, who runs an antique store in Fuqing county.

The illicit practice was noticed for the first time by customs inspectors in Dec, 2013, when they found dozens of ivory beads hidden in parcels from the UK to Zhang’s address.

Customs officers then tracked down the information and seized the couple in August when they returned to Fujian for a family visit.

The case was transferred to the local procuratorate who will prosecute the three soon.