Colombian authorities said they had seized a shipment of 3,493 shark fins to be traded illegally to Hong Kong from Bogota airport Friday. Environmental authorities in the capital said the number of fins sent indicated between 900 and 1,000 sharks measuring 1 and 5 meters long should be killed.
“The shipping company initially alerted environmental authorities and the police,” said Environment Secretary Carolina Urrutia.
The Ministry of Environment reported that the shipment was packaged in 10 packages and products from illegal fishing. The shipment came from the municipality of Roldanillo, in southwestern Colombia.
“indicated between 900 and 1,000 sharks measuring 1 and 5 meters long should be killed”
“Police took samples to determine their exact species, but we know that there are more than three species of shark present in Colombian waters,” Urrutia said.
Urrutia said Colombia’s national police would handle the investigation into the case. He has asked the shipping company to disclose all information about the shipper and ultimate destination of the illegal shipment of shark fins.
(NFL)
