Maputo, 5 Apr (AIM) – Mozambique’s National Criminal Investigation Service (Sernic) has seized over 1,200 kilos of sea cucumbers and 25 shark fins illegally obtained in the northern province of Cabo Delgado.
According to the Sernic spokesperson in Cabo Delgado, Noémia João, cited in Friday’s issue of the independent newsheet “Carta de Moçambique”, “this product was leaving the district of Mocímboa da Praia and being taken towards Nampula province, where it was going to be sold.”
The seizure, which took place at the Sunate (Silva Macua) checkpoint, in the Cabo Delgado district of Ancuabe, was the result of complaints from local people and culminated in the arrest of one person.
“We don’t have any names yet, we only have one person accused of carrying out illegal exploitation of natural and wildlife resources. We have forces on the ground to work with”, Joao said.
In December 2023, Sernic arrested two people in Pemba, the Cabo Delgado provincial capital, in possession of 16 shark fins. In the same month, the authorities announced the seizure of 600 kilos of sea cucumbers and the arrest of two people suspected of being involved in the case, including a civil servant from the District Economic Activities Services.
Shark fins are regarded as a delicacy in China, and the Chinese demand for shark fins has led to a catastrophic collapse in shark populations.
(AIM)
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