3 suspected in Czech Republic of killing, trading in tigers

PRAGUE, Czech Republic – Czech authorities have arrested three men suspected of killing critically endangered tigers and illegally trading in tiger products.

Police say in a statement they discovered the body of a recently killed tiger, a large number of skins of big cats and the bodies of 20 other protected animals during the raids conducted with customs officials in Prague and other parts of the country on Monday.

Wednesday’s statement does not identify the men aged 35, 56 and 67.

They are suspected of organizing the killing of at least three tigers and processing their parts to make products used in traditional medicine in Asia and sold on the black market.

If convicted, the men face up to five years in prison.