Chinese authorities have intercepted the delivery of 213 bear paws that were crossing the border from Russia, hidden inside the tires of a vehicle.
Two Russians have been detained, BBC reported.
Bear parts, and paws in particular, are prized in China for perceived medical uses, BBC said.
They’re worth 10 times more in China than in Russia and would likely have sold for about $460,000, BBC reported.
The paws came from the brown bear — a species that is under protection in China. The paws were discovered after border officials said the driver seemed nervous and “looked at his watch often,” one customs worker said in the BBC report.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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