Bengaluru : The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized consignments with 1600 kg of shark bones destined to Hong Kong, under provisions of Customs Act in Bengaluru.
The contents in the consignment raised many suspicion and accordingly the DRI consulted leading research institutions in the country to ascertain the products.
The National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR), upon testing the consignment confirmed that the samples drawn from the export consignment contained the species of sharks, restricted for exports.
The exporting firms were not even in possession of the legal permits.
During detailed investigations and follow-ups, it was established that the marine materials were procured from Cochin with the help of some suppliers.
The shark bones are in demand in countries like Hong Kong etc., where it is used in making soup powders.
[source_without_link]ANI[/source_without_link]