HONG KONG, Apr 20 (AP) -- Hong Kong police arrested three men and seized 146 boxes of frozen pangolins -- a protected species -- likely destined for use as food and medicine in China, officials and media said Wednesday.

A woman contacted the police after she saw a group of people moving boxes on a beach late Monday afternoon, police spokesman Chris Cheung said.

The scales of the pangolins had been removed and were being kept separately, said Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department spokesman Albert Hui.

The Ming Pao Daily News ran a picture Wednesday showing a white, pangolin carcass with its scales removed, tucked in a plastic bag.

Hui said officials are still investigating the shipment, but that pangolins are sometimes illegally sold for their meat, while their scales are used in Chinese medicine.

Ming Pao quoted local animal expert Gary Ades as saying the pangolins likely came from Laos, Cambodia or Vietnam and were destined for sale in China.

The scaly, lizard-like pangolin can be found in Asia and Africa and is a protected species in Hong Kong. It is known for curling up into an armored ball if attacked to protect its soft underbelly.

Police arrested three men on suspicion of violating endangered species laws, Hui said. The trio, who were not immediately charged, were released on bail of 10,000 Hong Kong dollars (US$1,280; €980) each, Cheung said.

Trading in endangered species in Hong Kong carries a maximum penalty of HK$5 million (HK$640,000; €490,600) and two years in prison.