Authorities in southern China made a surprise raid and broke up a crocodile smuggling ring. They captured about 70 of the offenders and have thrown them into jail. It's a good thing, too. There's no telling what the crocodiles would have tried to smuggle next if they got the turtles in.
The haul of crocs, each about 70 centimetres (28 inches) and weighing 1.5 kg (3.3 lb), along with baby turtles was made in Guangdong province in the country's far south, a part of the world where locals have famously adventurous eating habits.
But the report by Xinhua news agency said the crocodiles were "ornamental" and were caught with 3,000 baby turtles in the port city of Zhuhai. It did not say where they came from or what happened to the smuggler.
Southern China has long been the favourite stamping ground of smugglers who, before a crackdown several years ago, easily slipped cars, televisions, luxury goods, and even dismantled bowling alleys into the country.
There is no word on what the authorities plan to do with the captured criminal crocodiles, but our informants tell us that there appears to be a new barbecue pit behind the local police station and that the local police chief has a lovely new pair of boots. Coincidence? We report, you decide.
