Shijiazhuang Customs, with the support of Beijing Customs, recently uncovered an ivory smuggling case, involving 1,639 ivory products weighing around 101.4 kilograms, Legal Daily website reported.

Meanwhile, the experts' appraisal showed that the shipment also contained 3090 pieces of fake ivory products, including necklaces, bracelets, and other ornaments made from animal bones, resin, and plastic.

Experts claim the high-quality forged ivory could easily trick non-professionals if mixed with other genuine products, Legal Daily said.

According to Shijiazhuang Customs, the suspects engaged in illegal smuggling via online shopping. After they ordered the ivory products on a Japanese website and paid using an online payment platform, the website would send products through the regular mail.

However, on the waybill, the contents were marked "artware" or "necklace" with no mention of ivory. The shipper and consignee both used faked names.

Only a small group of exclusive agencies are approved by China’s State Forestry Administration to sell ivory products. One can purchase them only for personal collections and commercial ivory sales are prohibited.

The Officials from Beijing Customs' supervision center check seized ivory products along with an anti-contraband official from Shijiazhuang Customs. [Photo by Cai Yanhong/Legal Daily Website]

A portion of the ivory products seized by Shijiazhuang Customs. [Photo by Cai Yanhong/Legal Daily Website]

A wide variety of ivory products, some real and some fake, were seized by Shijiazhuang Customs. [Photo by Cai Yanhong/Legal Daily Website]