BEIJING, April 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese customs seized 7.48 tonnes of smuggled ivory tusks during an operation on March 30 this year, the General Administration of Customs (GAC) said in a press release Monday.

(File Photo: VCG)

It is the largest confiscation of smuggled elephant tusks by Chinese customs in recent years, the GAC said. An international ivory smuggling criminal gang was destroyed during the operation.

So far this year, China has seized 8.48 tonnes of ivory and ivory products and 500.5 tonnes of endangered species in 182 smuggling cases involving 171 suspects, according to the press release.