Officers of the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission deployed at Kotoka International Airport have thwarted an attempted export of a massive haul of illegally processed shark fins at the Swissport Cargo Centre.
The intercepted shipment contained 3,967 dried shark fins, with a combined weight of approximately 488 kilograms, concealed in 14 jute sacks popularly known as “Ghana Must Go” bags.
Officials estimate the black-market value of the consignment to be between $300,000 and $400,000, with Mauritanialisted as the cargo’s final destination.
According to reports, the operation was triggered after the Veterinary Services Directorate at the airport raised an alert when the shipment was declared as dried fish. A detailed physical examination, however, exposed the contents as processed shark fins, contradicting the declaration.
Subsequent verification revealed that the exporters failed to secure the mandatory export permit and supporting documents, breaching Section 22(2)(a) of the Wildlife Resources Management Act, 2023 (Act 1115), which governs the movement of wildlife and wildlife-derived products.
Scientific assessment later confirmed that the fins were taken from multiple protected shark species, including blue sharks (Prionace glauca), common threshers (Alopias vulpinus), silky sharks (Carcharhinus falciformis), and hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna mokarran).
Investigations into the attempted export are ongoing as authorities intensify efforts to curb wildlife trafficking through Ghana’s ports of exit.
