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South China City Cracks Down Shark Fin Smuggling
Three aquatic processing workshops in Nanhai City, Guangdong Province in south China, have been caught for smuggling shark fins, according to sources with Guangzhou Customs.
Three suspects are under criminal detention, the customs said.
The enterprises were found to have smuggled 2.3 tons of shark fin, which was sold on domestic market for huge profits from June to November. The total amount of shark fin smuggled was worth 4.6 million yuan (500,000 U.S. dollars), evading some 300,000 yuan (35,000 U.S. dollars) of tax.
As many as 81 enterprises in Guangdong province are engaged in the shark fin business, importing and processing semi-manufactured products either for domestic demand or for export.
Shark fin, known as a rare and nutritious seafood, has become popular on Chinese markets in past years. The products now on market are mainly imported due to a governmental ban on shark hunting.
Local customs statistics show that imported semi-manufactured shark fin soared up to 4,591 tons last year.
The Chinese government has imposed heavy tariffs on shark fins to restrain its import. Fin prices in Guangzhou have more than doubled that of Hong Kong. Huge profits and great market demand have led to some illegal smuggling.
Guangzhou Customs have joined forces with trade organizations, and vow to reinforce the supervision of fin trafficking.
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