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On February 27th, the Busan Headquarters Customs arrested six people who smuggled in 4.6 tons of whale meat, which is designated as an endangered species and whose international trade is prohibited, worth 550 million won (about US$400,000). It was revealed that the owner of the cafeteria, who was the main culprit, was detained.
Suspect A and six other people were caught trying to smuggle whale meat from February 2021 to June 2022 by deceptively claiming to purchase pollock and kamaboko from Japan via international express mail service (EMS).
Suspect A used a method of paying for the whale meat in small amounts by overseas remittance. Small overseas remittances can be sent overseas for less than $50,000 per transaction and can be deposited into a virtual account without going through a bank. The reason for the remittance was also nominal, such as living expenses and tuition.
A video taken by a customs enforcement team shows that the outside of the package received from Japan said it contained kamaboko, but when the box was opened, whale meat was revealed. This whale meat was sold at restaurants in Busan and Ulsan.
DNA analysis showed that most of the whale meat came from minke and Bryde's whales. Whales are prohibited from commercial trade between countries under the Washington Convention (CITES). Permission must be obtained from the Ministry of Environment before importing.
After receiving a report related to whale meat, customs raided the dining room and warehouse of Suspect A and confiscated 300 kilograms of whale meat.
2023/03/06 09:42 KST
