Male’, Maldives – Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem reveals that two individuals have been prosecuted in Maldives for smuggling shark fins.
PG Shameem tweeted that two individuals have been prosecuted under Smuggling of sharkfin (Customs Act 97), Deceptive Practice (PC 313), Unsworn Falsification (PC 520). He informed that a joint investigation has been launched to find the remaining members who were involved in the criminal enterprise.
Early January, Maldives Customs office also seized 21 boxes filled with 429kg of shark fins at Velana International Airport (VIA) with the help of Aviation Security Command. The shipment was packed in Enzi boxes. Customs announced later that though the shipment was packed in Enzi boxes, the consignee who declared the shipment to Customs is not Enzi.
Maldives banned shark fishing and the export of shark fins in 2010. Customs informed that the shark fins were concealed in a shipment declared as salt fish and were being shipped abroad to gain profit from them. They informed that further investigations are ongoing to find the culprit behind this act.
While the Maldives is widely known as the destination with the world’s largest population of reef manta rays and the only destination in the world where sharks can be seen as gentle giants all year round, these animals are caught and used as food or as a source of money by locals and some foreigners as well.
