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Thank goodness the police in northwest China made a point of checking this truck thoroughly,
as they uncovered 35 boxes of antelope horns that smugglers were attempting to sneak into
the country. The boxes were tucked away underneath straw
mattresses at the back of the truck, and after taking them out and counting them, they've
been estimated to have a value of $22 million. The truck's driver was detained and revealed
they had three accomplices waiting for him in the country. The border police picked up
40 kilometres from the point of entry. Antelopes are a first-class endangered species,
according to the International Convention for the Protection of Wild Animals. But their
horn has been a traditional ingredient in Chinese medicine for the treatment of fever,
convulsions and other illnesses... hence its high price tag for smugglers.