Cases of endangered species smuggling are soaring, authorities revealed today.
The spike — authorities made 522 seizures in the year to August, an increase of 78 percent — comes despite a toughening of penalties for wildlife trafficking, a practice long linked with the city’s free trade port.
According to Sing Tao Daily, authorities arrested 374 people for endangered species smuggling in the first eight months of the year, double the amount detained in the same period last year.
The weight of seized goods also tripled, according to officials, who were speaking at a press conference revealing the results of a recent 10-week special operation to combat wildlife traffickers.
According to Chan Tsz-tat, Head of Ports and Maritime Command smuggling of protected timber and pangolin scales, in particular, increased, adding most seized goods were transiting through the city’s port.
Coconuts HK reported in July that illegal timber smuggling to China via Hong Kong port was rife, with traffickers benefiting from lax oversight and a tendency for authorities to focus on mules and carriers, rather than importers.
The special operation — a joint crackdown by customs and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (ACFD) — targeted air, land and sea crossings between June 18 and the end of August.
Codenamed “Defender”, it netted 85 suspected and endangered species including 85 live frogs, 10 live turtles hidden among socks declared as “shoes and toys” and five live lizards in cereals declared as “toys and chocolate.”
Officers also seized 317 kilograms of dried seahorses, 1,500 grams of scheduled coral and 25 kilograms of worked ivory.
The total haul was valued HK$19 million (US$2.42 million.)
“We are keeping a close eye on the smuggling trend and we will make our best efforts to intercept these shipments coming into or going out of Hong Kong,” said Chan in a statement.
The operation followed a move by authorities to increase penalties for trading in species protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Following the change as of May 1, illegally importing, exporting or possessing endangered species were increased to a fine of HK$10 million (US$1.27 million) and a jail term of 10 years. Previously, the highest penalties were a fine of HK$5 million (US$637,000) and two years in prison.
