Major goat smuggling case cracked in China
Three rings were involved in the case and have been smuggling goats from Myanmar to China for years. The largest one among them has smuggled more than 10,000 tons of goats worth 270 million yuan (43 million US dollars) since 2016
A major goat smuggling case was cracked in China on Tuesday, with 37 suspects arrested and over 700 goats confiscated.
Three rings were involved in the case and have been smuggling goats from Myanmar to China for years. The largest one among them has smuggled more than 10,000 tons of goats worth 270 million yuan (43 million US dollars) since 2016.
The Fuzhou Customs. in charge of the smuggling case, raided dens of the rings in east China's Fujian Province, southwest Chinese provinces of Yunnan and Sichuan, central China's Hubei Province on Tuesday.
In a den in Fujian's Minhou County, the Customs found dozens of sheepfolds.
"We control three suspects and around seven crew members at the site. We estimate there are 60 small sheepfolds here. Three of them now have sheep, and the number is about 70-80," said Fu Xiang, an officer from the Anti-Smuggling Bureau under the Fuzhou Customs.
After careful examination, the customs officers also found many account books and over 500 Myanmar goats on a large truck.
"Such a truck can carry 400-500 goats. It is used to transport the goats from the China-Myanmar border to Minhou. A canvas for disguise can always be found on the top of a truck like this. If one puts down the canvas, the truck is no different from an ordinary truck," said Shi Liang, an officer from the Anti-Smuggling Bureau under the Fuzhou Customs.
A large amount of evidence was also found in another den in Ruili City, Yunnan.
The Fuzhou Customs said these rings sold the smuggled goats at a low price, seriously disrupting the market.
"The goat is 15-16 yuan (around 2.4 US dollars) per 500 grams in Myanmar, and the goat in the Chinese market is 70-80 yuan (around 12 US dollars) per 500 grams, so there is a huge gap between the prices," said Qiu Jianan, deputy director of the Anti-Smuggling Bureau under the Fuzhou Customs.
Lured by the great profits, the rings have kept smuggling Myanmar goats to China and their businesses have been even better, as the Spring Festival or Chinese Lunar New Year is coming.
Qiu said the rings smuggled 1,500-2,000 goats every day in days ahead of the festival.