Federal Operation Seizes Thousands of Illegal Shark Fins

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services officials recently confiscated about 50,000 dried shark fins at multiple U.S. ports, including Cincinnati, as part of a major wildlife enforcement effort.

The seizures, carried out in October 2025, totaled more than 1,600 pounds and were valued at over $1 million. Authorities intercepted the fins from 20 separate shipments during a joint initiative known as Operation Thunder.

The investigation began with a shipment discovered in Anchorage, Alaska, which led authorities to expand their efforts to other locations, including Louisville, Kentucky, and Cincinnati, Ohio.

Officials later determined the shipments were connected to a broader trafficking network.

“The staggering number of fins were predominantly from silky sharks and bigeye thresher sharks, both protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES),” the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services said. “All fins were seized for multiple violations of wildlife laws—another strong step forward in stopping the illegal trade of threatened species.”

Authorities encourage the public to help combat wildlife trafficking by avoiding products that contain shark fins and reporting suspected wildlife crimes.

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