Reuters AlertNet Lite - Russians, Chinese fined for smuggling bears' paws

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Russians, Chinese fined for smuggling bears' paws

08 Sep 2007 18:15:53 GMT
Source: Reuters

BEIJING, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Two Chinese and two Russians were convicted of smuggling bears' paws for consumption as a delicacy in China by hiding them in locomotives, the Xinhua news agency said on Saturday.

A court in Hulun Buir, Inner Mongolia, heard this week that the ringleader, 30-year-old Zhou Xinquan, ordered the paws from his contacts in Zabaikalsk City in Chita, Siberia.

He arranged for two Russian train drivers to smuggle the rare animal parts to the border city of Manzhouli, Inner Mongolia, the agency said.

Zhou and a Chinese accomplice were arrested while attempting to collect the paws in February. Zhou was fined 70,000 yuan and given a three-year suspended jail sentence, while his accomplice received a one-year suspended sentence and fine of 40,000 yuan.

The Russians, who were detained two days later, were fined 80,000 yuan and deported.

Officials said the 35 bears' paws were worth 180,000 yuan ($23,880). ($1=7.536 Yuan)

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Last updated:Sat Sep 8 18:16:46 2007