Forestry police in Shangluo city, Northwest China's Shaanxi province, have busted a group smuggling endangered species, and most of the more than 140 suspects are college students.

Sunda slow loris are seen in a cage. Forestry police in Shaanxi province have busted a group smuggling endangered species, and most of the more than 140 suspects are college students. [Photo/Xi'an Evening Paper]

Among the 1,129 animals seized, some are under first-degree national protection, including 589 pythons and three Sunda slow loris, while others are on the endangered list.

The animals have a total value of 10.85 million yuan ($1.7 million), a local newspaper reported.

Police said a sophomore college student from the provincial capital Xi'an was one of the ringleaders.

The student surnamed Cui rented a room near campus to open a pet store and also kept pythons in another rented apartment. Cui found buyers online and delivered the animals by express courier companies or long-distance buses.

Police said the network included suspects from 25 provinces, autonomous regions, and cities.

Most suspects were born after the 1980s and many were college students when they were caught, according to police.

Cui, 24, said he came from a poor family and took part-time jobs, such as distributing leaflets and promoting products, while in school to barely cover expenses.

After opening the pet store, he realized the market demand for animals like pythons and lizards.

Cui earned as much as 2,000 yuan ($320) in each deal smuggling protected animals.

Liu Gang, forestry police director in Shangluo, said this was the largest Internet-based smuggling ring uncovered in recent years.

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