The manta ray gill plates were in an air consignment declared as dried fish gills. Previous NextAbout 330 kilograms of dried manta ray gill pates worth HK$900,000 shipped from Sri Lanka have been seized at the Hong Kong International Airport on October 25. Customs said the haul was in an air consignment declared as dried fish gills. Dried gill plates from manta and devil rays, some of the world's most biologically vulnerable fishes, are a valued commodity in Asian dried-seafood and traditional Chinese medicine markets, according to 'Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems' published by John Wiley & Sons. Vendors recommend gill plates (trade name pengyusai) for ailments ranging from acne to cancer and as a general health tonic.

Source: The Standard October 26, 2020 05:03 UTC