Police in Nepal have uncovered a major smuggling ring found to be trading baby chimps stolen from their mothers.
The chimps were being taken from the wild in Nigeria and then flown to Kathmandu, where they were then put for sale with an asking price of $12,000, the BBC reports.
It comes after two baby chimps were seized by wildlife traffickers, who drugged the animals and forced them into a packing case to be flown first to Istanbul, then Nepal, where they were intercepted before they could reach their final destination in India.
Nepali officers kept a close eye on a large crate at Kathmandu Airport after receiving a tip-off.
The men accused of smuggling the animals are currently awaiting trial.
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