Chinese police has busted a criminal network for smuggling wild animals, seizing 22 suspects and rescuing 31 endangered animals in the city of Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province.

Investigators cracked the case by tracking pet transactions. Initially, a citizen bought two endangered radiated tortoise for his child as pets. The owner said he did not know that these animals are under national protection, eventually giving the information of the seller to the police.

The police officers found the seller at a local market. Following his trading records, authorities traced a smuggling network covering 27 provinces in China. They soon set up a team to investigate the case in April.

So far, 22 suspects from across the country have been detained. "I thought they were just common pets and it was fine to sell them to people. Now I feel so regretful," said a suspect surnamed Wang.

The police also rescued 28 tortoises, two lizards and one crocodile.

"If citizens want to buy a wild animal as a pet, we suggest that they do some research on the internet to make sure that they are not wild animals under state protection," said Li Dongsheng, head of the Criminal Police Brigade of the city's Forest Public Security Bureau.

(Cover image via VCG)

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