Customs officials found more than 800 endangered seahorses smuggled through an airport to be used as “natural Viagra” by fake healers.
The dried seahorses were hidden in a cargo package passing through Germany’s Leipzig/Halle airport when they were found by a sniffer dog.
The 5-kilogram package was reportedly en route from Senegal, West Africa to Laos in Southeast Asia, when it was found Thursday and the customs office released a statement on Monday.
Powdered seahorses are often used as a form of so-called natural viagra by users of traditional medicine in the Far East.
Hautzollamt Dresden/Zenger
Marvin Christmann, spokesman for the main customs office in Dresden, said in a statement: “On June 16, 2022, customs authorities at Leipzig/Halle airport seized 844 pieces of seahorses with a total weight of approximately five kilograms during an air cargo shipment inspection.
“The package would be transported from Senegal to Laos via Germany.
“The species conservation tracking dog used on the package during the inspection drew the attention of customs officials to the contents of the shipment.
“On opening, 844 pieces of dried seahorses were revealed.”
Christmann adds: “With its checks, Customs makes a decisive contribution to preserving the diversity of flora and fauna. In 2021, the customs officers at the headquarters in Dresden have made a total of 1,965 species of protected animals and plants and products from them in 212. cases.”
The customs spokesman said seahorses are protected and subject to strict anti-trafficking measures.
He explained, “Seahorses (lat. Hippocampus) are an endangered species and are protected by the Washington Convention on Endangered Species.”
The Washington Convention on Endangered Species, also known as CITES – the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species – protects approximately 5,000 animal species and 28,000 plant species endangered by international trade.
Hautzollamt Dresden/Zenger
Christmann said: “The dried seahorse powder is said to have a healing and potency-enhancing effect in eastern regions.
“As a species of protected animals and plants and goods made from them that are imported or exported illegally or without the required documents are seized by customs.”
He added: “Illegal importation or transit is a violation of the Federal Wildlife Conservation Act and is punishable by up to five years in prison or a fine.”
Dried seahorses are widely used in traditional Chinese medicine, wrongly believed to cure asthma and skin infections, as well as impotence.
This story was provided to Newsweek by Zenger News.