South African authorities arrested three people and seized 342 kilos of lion bones on Tuesday at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, according to a statement by the Ministry of Environment.

The ministry said that 12 boxes of lion bones wrapped in aluminium foil were discovered upon inspection after they were misdeclared.

The bones, which are valuable in Asia for their presumed medicinal values and use in making jewelry, were destined for Malaysia.

Albi Modise, a spokesman for the ministry, said that all three people arrested were foreigners, of whom two are Zimbabweans. One suspect is still in custody.

According to Modise the export of bones of lions bred in captivity is legal; however, a special permit is needed for that to happen.

The South African Police Service said that a 34-year-old man was to be arraigned at the Kempton Park Magistrate's Court on Thursday for illegal possession of lion bones.

There are more than 11,000 lions in South Africa, with about 3,000 of them living in national parks where hunting is forbidden.

Source(s): AFP, South African Police Service