A woman attempting to conceal five live corn snakes on her body has been stopped by Shenzhen Customs in South China's Guangdong Province while crossing the border at Futian Port in Shenzhen. Screenshot of The Paper

China's customs authority will step up risk assessment and quarantine inspection targeting the smuggling of exotic species as it rolled out a three-year campaign across the country on Saturday to prevent invasive alien species and protect ecological security and biodiversity.

Chinese customs seized a total of 1,405 species of animals and plants that were attempted to be carried into the country in the first half of this year. These species are prohibited from entering the country and were found in articles delivered or carried, according to the General Administration of Customs (GAC).

Among these species, 599 are not natively found in China's environment, including giant centipedes, wild harvester ants and striped salamanders, among others. The customs also successfully dismantled criminal gangs involved in the illegal introduction of "alien pets."

The GAC said that the entry possibilities of alien species into the country have increased, as has the risk level following the rapid development of international trade and frequent people-to-people exchanges.

The aim for the three-year campaign aims at implementing the overall national security concept and building a strong quarantine line at ports so as to protect China's ecological security and biodiversity.

China's customs authority will work to improve early warning of biosafety and prevention system across national borders and increase the application of advanced and intelligent equipment when carrying out the campaign.

During the campaign, customs officers across the country will step up risk assessment and quarantine inspection, and punish illegal introduction, carrying, delivery and smuggling of exotic species in accordance with the law, the GAC said.

The GAC will also reveal typical illegal cases to the public and if the circumstances are severe, it will investigate legitimate responsibilities of the involved.

Recently, a woman who attempted to conceal five live corn snakes on her body was stopped by Shenzhen Customs in South China's Guangdong Province while crossing the border at Futian Port in Shenzhen. The act of hiding live snakes and attempting to carry them through a port of entry has attracted wide attention which many netizens called "incomprehensible" and representing a "significant safety hazard."

Global Times