KUNMING, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Police in southwest China's Yunnan Province seized 1.89 tonnes of beef tripes smuggled from Vietnam to China, local authorities said Thursday.

During a routine patrol on April 30, police in Maguan County, Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, found the packaged beef tripes on three off-road vehicles, and three suspects were detained.

Local police have carried out harmless disposals of the smuggled beef tripes. Further investigation is underway.

Beef tripe is from the internal organs of cattle, which can be cooked as food, commonly used in Chinese hot pot and fried dishes.