Overview

• Environmental police discovered a dedicated drying and processing area outfitted with adapted heaters, wooden drying chambers, precision scales, exhaustors and a plastic sealer.
• The suspect was fined R$6,700 and detained after officers followed a tip to the Silop neighborhood.
• Authorities report the animals were purchased from fishermen in Paraty and prepared for irregular sale to other Brazilian states.
• Part of the seizure was sent to the Federal Police to examine possible international trafficking, with the remainder sent to USP’s Oceanographic Institute for analysis.
• Ubatuba’s health surveillance issued a sanitary infraction over improper handling and storage, as officials stressed the species’ critical conservation status and ecological importance.