A record 26-ton seizure of illegal dried shark fin worth some HK$8.6 million was detected because of suspicious labeling in Spanish, Customs said, RTHK reports. The shark fin arrived in two shipments at the Kwai Chung Customhouse from Ecuador. They said the shark fins came from two species that are considered vulnerable to extinction – thresher and silky sharks – and that an estimated 38,000 sharks would have been killed to provide so many fins. Cheung added that officers believe the shark fins were destined for local fish markets and also for re-export to countries in Southeast Asia. Excluding the latest seizure, Cheung said Customs had already foiled nine shark fins smuggling cases in the first four months, involving 41 tons of the goods that worth HK$5.2 million.

Source: The Standard May 06, 2020 09:00 UTC