Hong Kong Customs seized about 330 kilograms of suspected endangered manta ray gills with an estimated market value of about $900,000 at the Hong Kong International Airport on October 25.
Through risk assessment, Customs officers inspected an air consignment declared as dried fish gills arrived from Sri Lanka on that day. The suspected scheduled manta ray gills were found inside the consignment.
The case was handed over to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) for follow-up investigation.
Hong Kong Customs will continue to work with the AFCD to combat the smuggling of endangered species.
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 $10 million and imprisonment for 10 years.
Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).
Ends/Sunday, October 25, 2020
