Officials from the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission, stationed at the Kotoka International Airport, successfully blocked the illegal export of a massive haul of dried shark fins. The interception took place at the Swissport Cargo Centre, where officers discovered 3,967 fins weighing approximately 488 kilograms.
The illicit cargo was hidden in 14 large jute bags and had been falsely declared as ordinary dried fish to bypass security. Authorities estimate the black-market value of the fins to be between $300,000 and $400,000, with investigations revealing that the shipment was bound for Mauritania.
The discrepancy was first noticed by the Veterinary Services Directorate, prompting a detailed physical inspection that confirmed the contents were indeed shark parts. Under the Wildlife Resources Management Act of 2023 (Act 1115), exporting such products without valid permits is a serious legal violation.
Expert identification revealed that the fins belonged to several protected species, including the blue shark, common thresher, silky shark, and hammerhead shark. All of these species are protected under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), meaning their trade must be strictly regulated to prevent extinction.
The Forestry Commission has officially seized the consignment, and the lead suspect in the case is currently in the custody of the Airport Police. This arrest is expected to assist with broader investigations into wildlife trafficking networks operating through Ghana. By enforcing these regulations, the authorities aim to protect marine biodiversity and uphold international conservation standards.