Shark fins worth Rs 32 lakh seized

2 held for bid to smuggle shark fins to Dubai

Chennai:

Shark fins weighing about 64 kg and worth Rs 32 lakh, which were allegedly kept for smuggling to Singapore, have been seized, customs officials said Wednesday.

Air intelligence unit officials intercepted two passengers bound for Singapore on Tuesday morning following their suspicious movement at the airport.

On checking six carton boxes,they found the shark fins concealed inside 10 small gunny bags, a customs release said.

Wildlife Crime Control Bureau officials said the goods were of ‘processed shark fins” and export of shark fins was prohibited as per the Foreign Trade Policy.

Shark fins are used in making ‘expensive’ soups having medicinal properties in China, according to the release.