KUNMING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Police in southwest China's Yunnan Province have detained four people in connection with smuggling frozen chicken feet into China, local authorities said Friday.
On Oct. 18, border police in Maguan County seized a total of 17 tonnes of frozen chicken feet in Melong Village after receiving a tip-off, according to the county's public security bureau.
Four suspects were caught on the spot, with three vehicles seized.
The police said the suspects did not have certificates of the frozen chicken feet's origin, nor did the products go through any inspection and quarantine procedures. At present, the smuggled frozen chicken feet have been buried safely.
Further investigation into the case is underway.
Since the beginning of this year, Maguan, which borders Vietnam, has cracked down on several cases of smuggling frozen chicken feet, according to the local police.
Cooked chicken feet, often served as a cold dish, are popular in China. With supply hardly keeping pace with demand, chicken feet are being illegally imported, processed locally and sold to vendors across China.
