SHENZHEN — Chinese customs seized around 1,237.5 metric tons of endangered species and related products in the first 10 months of the year, an official said on Nov 26.

The seized items included 9.16 tons of ivory and ivory products, Sun Zhijie, director of the anti-smuggling department of the General Administration of Customs, told a meeting in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong province.

Chinese customs investigated 444 smuggling cases related to endangered species and products from January to October, Sun said.

Customs authorities have attached greater importance to cracking down on international criminal gangs. In March, Huangpu customs in Guangdong province busted an international smuggling ring and seized nearly 7.5 tons of ivory in one raid.

Fuzhou, Xiamen and Nanning customs also busted cross-border smuggling gangs during the 10 month period.

China adopts a zero-tolerance policy on the smuggling of endangered species, and will continue to strengthen international cooperation to crack down on such crimes, Sun added.