The National Criminal Investigation Service (Sernic) in the Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado has seized more than 1,200 kilos of holothurians and 25 shark fins, in yet another case of illegal exploitation of natural resources, an official source announced.
“This product was leaving the district of Mocímboa da Praia for the province of Nampula, where it was going to be commercialised,” Noémia João, spokesperson for Sernic in Cabo Delgado province in northern Mozambique, told the media in Pemba.
The seizure, which took place at the Sunate (Silva Macua) checkpoint, in the Ancuabe district, was the result of complaints from local people and culminated in the arrest of one person.
“We don’t have any names yet, we only have one person accused of carrying out the legal type of illegal exploitation of natural and wildlife resources (…). We have forces on the ground to work with,” the source added.
On 16 December 2023, Sernic, in the city of Pemba, arrested two people in possession of 16 shark fins.
In the same month, the provincial authorities announced the seizure of 600 kilos of holothurians (also known as sea cucumbers) a week earlier, and also arrested two people suspected of being involved in the case, including a civil servant from the District Services for Economic Activities.
Lusa
