Thailand-
In a blow to illegal wildlife trafficking, Thai Customs authorities, along with Chinese officials, seized 402 shark fins valued at over 2 million baht (approximately $60,000 USD) at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Samut Prakan on May 1, 2025. The interception, announced by acting Customs spokesman Phantong Loykulnanta, shows Thailand’s intensified efforts to combat smuggling under directives from Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
The illegal shipment, disguised as “dry fish,” originated from Trinidad and Tobago and was en route to China. Acting on intelligence from China’s Anti-Smuggling Bureau, Thai officials raided a warehouse at the airport, uncovering 102 kilograms of shark fins in a operation involving the Customs Department’s Enforcement Division, Suvarnabhumi Customs Office, Department of Fisheries, the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division, and Thai Airways. The fins, likely from endangered species, violated the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which regulates the trade of protected wildlife.
“This seizure sends a clear message that Thailand will not be a transit point for illegal wildlife trade,” Phantong stated. The confiscated fins have been handed over to the Fisheries Inspection Post at Suvarnabhumi Airport, with the case now under police investigation to identify the smuggling network’s members.
This bust highlights the ongoing challenge of curbing illegal wildlife trade, particularly for shark fins used in dishes like shark fin soup, a status symbol in some cultures. Despite a reported 34% decline in shark fin consumption in Thailand since 2017, demand persists, fueling black-market networks.
Conservationists urge stronger enforcement and public awareness to protect vulnerable shark populations, critical to marine ecosystems.
