Wildlife inspectors intercepted a major wildlife trafficking shipment involving approximately 50,000 dried shark fins across 20 shipments at multiple U.S. ports, totaling more than 1,600 pounds and valued at over $1 million.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the coordinated enforcement action took place in October 2025 as part of Operation Thunder, a global initiative aimed at disrupting illegal wildlife trafficking networks.

The first shipment was discovered by inspectors in Anchorage, Alaska, triggering a wider investigation. Additional shipments were subsequently intercepted moving through Louisville, Kentucky, and Cincinnati, Ohio, while in transit from Mexico to Hong Kong.

Officials said the shipments were falsely declared as car parts, a method commonly used to conceal illegal wildlife products during international transport. Investigators later determined the seizures were linked to a broader trafficking network.

The confiscated fins were primarily identified as coming from silky sharks and bigeye thresher sharks. Both shark species are regulated under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which controls the international trade of threatened and endangered species.

All shipments were seized due to multiple violations of U.S. wildlife protection laws. Authorities confirmed that information related to the case has been shared with international partners to support ongoing enforcement actions within their own jurisdictions.

This case highlights the continued global demand for shark fins and the ongoing pressure it places on vulnerable shark populations worldwide.

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