Int'l wildlife anti-smuggling operation pays off

BEIJING -- A joint operation targeting cross-border smuggling and illegal trade of wildlife products between May 4 to 27 this year was a huge success, said State Forestry Administration on Thursday.

"Operation Cobra III", which involved 64 countries and organizations across Asia, Africa, Europe and America, resulted in the confiscation of 12 tons of ivory, 187 kilograms of rhinoceros horn, 5.2 tons of pangolin, one ton of eel, over 2,000 tons of rosewood and many other rare and endangered species.

More than 200 smugglers were arrested in over 300 cases, said the administration.

It was the third China-proposed international operation of its kind, following Operation Cobra I and II in 2013 and 2014 respectively.