Sichuan police have cracked down on the region's biggest ever endangered animal smuggling case, with the trafficked animals including black bears, owls and pangolins, the West China City Daily reported Wednesday.
Ringleader Liang Dong, 58, of Mianyang was arrested along with five other suspects on December 10, when cops stormed a storage space and found 193 endangered animal carcasses, which weighed a total of almost two tons.
Liang was detained in the police ambush, while returning with nine black bear heads, 42 owls, three pangolins and several crocodiles.
Liang is facing at least ten years in prison for smuggling the animals.
"Damn, I'm going to die in prison," said Liang upon his arrest, according to the report.
Mianyang police received a tip-off that downtown eateries were selling bear meat and started investigating in 2015.
Police found Liang had links to the bear meat being sold at restaurants but could not find other information at first including where he was hiding the animals.
Liang purchased and transported the animals in various provinces and acted cautiously, which made it hard for police to track him over the course of the one-year investigation.
With the cooperation of a go-between, a nearly 70-year-old woman surnamed Yan, he sold animals to clients Yan introduced, with Liang receiving 8000 yuan ($1,450) per bear and Yan taking a cut of 1000 yuan.
The new Law on the Protection of Wildlife stipulates that both trading in and eating endangered species is forbidden. The law took effect Monday.
