China busts wildlife-smuggling gang: Police seize 148 wolf skins and carcasses on the border after noticing 'stinky containers'

• Police made the discovery on February 4 in Xinjiang, north west China
• An undisclosed number of people from the gang have been detained
• Chinese media say the bust is the biggest in almost 20 years 
• Authorities say the meat was intended to be sold on the black market

By Sophie Williams For Mailonline

Published: 8 February 2016

Police in Xinjiang Autonomous Region, China have arrested a large wildlife smuggling gang that were attempting to import illegal wolf carcasses.

A total of 148 wolf skins, six carcasses and a large number of animal organs were discovered after police noticed that several containers smelt like rotting fish, the People's Daily Online reports. 

Wolf meat was also seized during the bust which Chinese media are reporting to be the biggest discovery in 20 years.

 Busted: Police arrested an undisclosed number of people after discovering illegally imported wolf carcasses

Illegal goods: Within the containers was wolf meat, skin and decorative amulets made from bones

The bust took place at the Takeshenken border check point in Altay Prefecture in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region on February 4. 

The Takeshenken border check point is 15km away from the Chinese-Mongolian border.  Many goods such as cotton, livestock and tea are exported through the checkpoint.  

The police discovered 148 wolf skins, 255 decorative amulets made from wolf bones and offal which was estimated to be worth around one million yuan (£105,000). 

According to local authorities, the items were set to be sold on China's black market where there is demand for exotic animal meats. 

Local police say they have detained an undisclosed number of members of the wildlife smuggling gang.  

Worth a fortune: Frozen wolf carcasses as well as dozens of bags of wolf skin were seized in Xinjiang

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