Panama police have released a photo of some of the shark fins that were confiscated Photo: Handout/Panama National Police/AFP
From BZ/dpa
In Panama, the police seized more than six tons of shark fins.
The fins, with a total weight of 6.79 tons, were found in a container in the municipality of La Pita, about 38 kilometers southwest of the capital Panama City, a police statement said on Thursday (local time). The delivery was therefore intended for Asia.
At least five Panamanian citizens were arrested as part of Operation Shark. The police are investigating, among other things, organized crime, wildlife crime, environmental crime and illegal trade.
Shark fins are considered a delicacy, especially in Asian countries, and fetch high prices there. According to the police in Panama, the kilo is sold in Asia for more than 1,000 dollars (892 euros). In Europe, on the other hand, the price per kilo is between 100 and 120 euros. According to environmental organization WildAid, 73 million shark fins are used to make shark soup every year.
At the Cites world species conference in Panama at the end of 2022, stricter controls for the shark trade were decided. In the future, almost all species traded for their fins and meat will be protected – previously this was only the case for about a quarter.