“Drug gangs are making a new fortune – by smuggling body parts of endangered animals into Britain.

The sick trade is netting crime bosses £100 million a year, second only to drug trafficking in profitability.

Customs officers have seized 80 tonnes of rare species parts in just three years concealed in ship containers, vans, luggage and plane cargo.

The 100,000 items included lions’ paws and gorilla feet, elephant ivory and a snow leopard and a whole polar bear skin.

Impounded rhino horn alone was worth over £1 million.

It can now can fetch £40,000 per kilo – more than diamonds or cocaine…”

Source: Mirror Online
By: Chris Bucktin
To read the full article: www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/wildlife-beasts-crime-gangs-sick-1871600