2,000 dead seahorses smuggled in packages to France

PARIS — French customs police have seized 2,000 dried seahorses smuggled into France in several postal packages en route from Guinea to Vietnam.

The endangered creatures were discovered in plastic bags by customs officers in a Paris suburban post office. The national customs police said in a statement on Friday (Aug 19) that the seahorses were slated to be sent on a flight to Vietnam, where they could be used in traditional medicine or sold to tourists.

Customs officers frequently seize endangered animals, alive or dead, being smuggled to or through France.

As part of efforts to fight the trade of protected species, the environment ministry this week banned all trade in ivory and rhinoceros horns in France.