Sichuan Customs intercept 800 live ants

Photo: Live black ants 1.5-2 cm in length are smuggled in a range of glass tubes. (Photo/CNS)

Chengdu Customs have successfully seized 800 live ants being smuggled in from abroad recently.

On October 30, police officers at Chengdu Shuangliu Airport Customs detected suspicious test-tube shaped items while x-raying a consignment. Their investigation found hundreds of black ants around 1.5-2 cm in length were held in a variety of glass tubes, fitted with balls of cotton wool soaked in water. The number of live ants in the tubes is estimated to be around 400.

This was just the first case of live ants being seized by Chengdu Customs. After analyzing information about the sender, mailing logistics and the recipient, police found another similar express parcel for the same recipient would be coming from Hamburg via Dubai and Seoul, due to arrive in Chengdu on Nov. 1. The police intercepted the parcel at the airport and found another 400 live ants inside tubes.

As the recipient couldn't provide the related license for live animal and plant quarantine, the case is still under investigation by the commodity inspection department.