Customs officials have smashed a global smuggling ring after they discovered 12 tons of smuggled ivory worth £62million in China.

The 3,188 pieces of elephant tusks were found in Xiamen city and have an estimated value of 603 million Yuan on the black market.

Officials named one of the ‘masterminds’ as a Fujian native called Chen who was known to customs since 2011 and operates between China and Africa for his licensed ivory shop, according to the South China Morning Post.

Several members of his group were also arrested and almost 2,000 kilograms of ivory was seized in August.

Ivory is seen as a symbol of wealth and status in China, and has become increasingly popular in recent years with the growth of the wealthy middle class.

According to a recent survey by the International Fund for Animal Welfare, 70 per cent of Chinese people did not know that elephants are killed for ivory products.

The survey revealed that most thought elephants lost tusks in the same way humans lose teeth.

China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said at a news conference on Tuesday that China was committed to working with the international community to protect wildlife.

The U.S. is the world’s second largest consumer of ivory products behind China.