Female sentenced to 10 months’ jail time for smuggling dried shark fins (with picture)
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A 29-year-old Chinese lady, who smuggled dried shark fins into Hong Kong, was founded guilty at the District Court today (October 16) for breaking the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586) (the Ordinance) and sentenced to 10 months’ jail time.
A spokesperson for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) stated that the traveler reached Hong Kong International Airport from Brazil through Ethiopia on March 22 this year. Upon examination of her travel luggage by Customs officers, a batch of presumed set up dried shark fins was discovered inside the travel luggage. AFCD officers consequently participated in the scene, took a look at the specimens and verified that they were arranged dried shark fins, weighing an overall of about 52 kgs, with an approximated market price of about $200,000. The female was prosecuted by the AFCD for unlawful import of specimens of threatened types. She was founded guilty at the District Court today, and the court embraced a beginning point of 15 months’ jail time for sentencing. With a one-third decrease offered for her guilty plea, the accused was sentenced to 10 months’ jail time.
Some shark and ray types are noted in the Appendices to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, and are controlled under the Ordinance in Hong Kong. Anyone who imports, exports or has specimens of threatened types not in accordance with the Ordinance dedicates an offense and is accountable on conviction to an optimum fine of $10 million and jail time for 10 years with the specimens surrendered.
The spokesperson stated, “The Government is committed to protecting endangered species. The AFCD and Hong Kong Customs will remain vigilant and continue to monitor and combat illegal activities involving endangered species.”
Members of the general public might call 1823 to report any believed abnormalities to the AFCD and check out the AFCD site at www.cites.hk for info on the control of threatened types in Hong Kong.
Ends/Friday, October 16, 2026
Released at HKT 17:25
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