At-risk species hidden in seaweed
Customs officers have discovered 28 bags of pangolin anteater and hawksbill turtle scales hidden among 4,000 bags of wet seaweed in the second endangered-species haul in a week.
The shipment was due to be delivered to the 46-year-old owner of a trading company, who was arrested in connection with a record seizure of pangolin scales last week.
Customs and Excise Department officer Chu Man-bun said seven containers that arrived in two shipments from Indonesia last week raised suspicions when the consignee failed to turn up to collect the goods during the five-day free storage period in Kwai Chung.
Officers also found another container suspected to contain endangered species in a Fanling godown on Monday. It arrived from the Philippines.
The consignee of the three shipments is the same person.
The eight containers were taken to a government pier in Tuen Mun on Monday, where more than 50 officers spent 14 hours unloading the goods and checking the 4,000 bags.
Mr Chu said 14 bags of endangered pangolin scales and 14 bags of hawksbill turtle scales were found.
Another three bags of birds nests and a bag of ray gills were also seized as unmanifested goods.
'It is the biggest seizure of hawksbill turtle scales in the past 10 years. They are from between 400 and 800 turtles,' Mr Chu said.
'The total value of the seized goods is more than $1 million. We believe that the consignment is destined for China.' Endangered species protection officer Cheung Chi-sun, from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, said the hawksbill turtle, pangolin scales and ray gills were used in Chinese medicine.
The scales could also be used to make handicrafts.
The consignee was arrested on Tuesday afternoon. He has been released on $5,000 bail.
Last Wednesday, Customs officers seized more than two tonnes of pangolin scales and a bag of dried green sea turtle skin, worth $1.6 million, in a Fanling container.
