Global Raids Lead To 600 Seizures Of Wildlife Contraband

Abalones are the one of the most important mollusks fished in many coastal regions of the world, such as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, etc.

A series of raids conducted across Asia, Africa and Europe resulted in more than 300 arrests and over 600 seizures of assorted wildlife contraband — from several tons of ivory and rhino horns to whale ribs and sea horses, authorities said Thursday.

Law enforcement agencies from 62 countries took part in the operation codenamed "COBRA III" along with international organizations such as Interpol and Europol, according to a statement released by organizers in Bangkok.

Those arrested in the May 4-27 operation included eight trafficking kingpins identified as three Chinese, four Vietnamese and an Indian, said the statement from Operation Cobra, organized by the Southeast Asian-based ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network, which works with regional officers from wildlife, customs, police and other agencies.

AP report continues:

This year's operation "was the most successful so far," said police Capt. Vatanarak Suranartyuth, a senior official with the network. It was the first time that European Union countries participated.

Japan cuisine: The second most popular recipe is abalone sauteed with butter, with a dash of soy sauce. Raw abalones can only be enjoyed in November and December.

"The trafficking of endangered species remains a problem in the EU and beyond," said Europol Director Rob Wainwright. "We will continue our efforts to fight these cruel crimes, to ensure a safe environment for endangered species in Europe and all over the world."

The seizures highlighted the scope of wildlife trafficking:

— Over 12 tons of elephant ivory, including 4.3 tons in Thailand that came from the Democratic Republic of Congo and 3.1 tons from Kenya. Other ivory seizures came from Singapore (3.7 tons), Mozambique (1.3 tons) and Uganda (0.6 tons).

— 126 rhino horns from Mozambique, Vietnam, Namibia and Kenya.

— 1 ton of abalone seized in South Africa.

— A speedboat impounded in Hong Kong containing live tortoises, lizards, spiders, 249 kilograms (550 pounds) of pangolin scales and about 10 kilograms (22 pounds) of bornbill beak.

Europol said that EU authorities seized:

— 20 kilograms (44 pounds) of live leeches and 25 kilograms (55 pounds) of coral in Bulgaria, plus 90 kilograms (200 pounds) of coral in Spain.

— 10,000 dead sea horses and over 400 live turtles and tortoises in the United Kingdom, plus 300 more in Croatia.

— 16 whale ribs in the Netherlands.
The abalone is a gastropod found in most of the oceans in the world and prized as a culinary treat among the Japanese and residents of the West Coast of the United States, among others. Due to concerns about over harvesting, many nations have limits on how many may be taken, and some entrepreneurs have opened abalone farms so that they can be harvested and sold legally.

Abalone have long been a valuable food source for humans in every area of the world where a species is abundant. The meat of this mollusc is considered a delicacy in certain parts of Latin America (especially Chile), France, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, and East Asia (especially in China, Vietnam, Japan, and Korea). In Chinese speaking regions, abalone are commonly known as bao yu, and sometimes form part of a Chinese banquet. In the same way as shark fin soup or bird's nest soup, abalone is considered a luxury item, and is traditionally reserved for special occasions such as weddings and other celebrations. However, the availability of commercially farmed abalone has allowed more common consumption of this once rare delicacy.