Hong Kong customs seizes HK$280,000 worth of dried shark fins from Panama

Hong Kong customs officers have seized about 162kg of suspected dried shark fins from protected species worth about HK$280,000 (US$35,720) from Panama at the airport.The Customs and Excise Department said on Friday that officers inspected an air consignment declared as dried fish maw arriving from the country the day before.Upon inspection, officers found six boxes of suspected scheduled dried shark fins, weighing about 162kg (357lbs), inside the consignment.The case has been handed over to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department for further investigation.Under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting an endangered species without a licence faces a maximum fine of HK$10 million and imprisonment for 10 years.In a separate case revealed by the department on Friday, customs seized suspected smuggled goods with a total estimated market value of about HK$700,000 on Wednesday.