Hong Kong customs seizes HK$280,000 worth of dried shark fins from Panama

Officers found six boxes of suspected scheduled dried shark fins, weighing about 162kg in a shipment from Panama.

Photo: Handout Hong Kong customs officers have seized about 162kg of suspected dried shark fins from protected species worth about HK$280,000 (US$35,720) from Panama at the airport.

The Customs and Excise Department said on Friday that officers inspected an air consignment declared as dried fish maw arriving from Panama the day before.

Upon inspection, officers found six boxes of suspected scheduled dried shark fins, weighing about 162kg (357lbs), inside the consignment.

The case has been handed over to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department for further investigation.

Under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting an endangered species without a licence is liable to a maximum fine of HK$10 million and imprisonment for 10 years.

In a separate case revealed by the department on Friday, customs seized suspected smuggled goods with a total estimated market value of about HK$700,000 on Wednesday.

Officers identified a suspicious river trade vessel during a sea patrol in the northwest area of Hong Kong waters on Wednesday afternoon and intercepted it for inspection.

Upon examination, officers discovered a large batch of suspected smuggled goods on board, including suspected pharmaceutical products, dried abalones, leather bags, liquor and wine.

The captain and a crew member of the vessel were arrested on suspicion of violating the Import and Export Ordinance.

Under the ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of HK$2 million and imprisonment for seven years upon conviction. “Customs has long been combating various smuggling activities on all fronts,” the department said. “Customs will keep up its enforcement action and continue to resolutely combat sea smuggling activities through proactive risk management and intelligence-based enforcement strategies, and carry out targeted anti-smuggling operations at suitable times to crack down on relevant crimes.”

原文链接: 南华早报