Ship seized carrying $6m in illegal cargo – but it's not what anyone expected to find
<p>A ship containing 12.3 million illegally caught seahorses that was bound for Asia has been seized by Peruvian authorities.</p>
<p>A Coast Guard ship detected the vessel “Adonay”, which was almost 200 miles off the seaside city of Callao before it was steered back to Peru’s main seafood port.</p>
<p>Officials said that the seahorses were illegally taken from Pacific Ocean waters and packed into 55 boxes that weighed more than 2,300 pounds.</p>
<p>The seahorses were expected to be sold on the international market, as the small marine fish has a value of more than $6 million.</p>
<p><img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7831542/seahorse-body.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/60515ae019f74291bcfcdec5a842a075" /></p>
<p>Investigators explained the reason behind the large number of seahorses, by explaining that they are viewed as a prime source of traditional Chinese medicine. The use of seahorses is thought to play a large role in curing infertility, baldness, asthma and arthritis.</p>
<p>Authorities arrested three Peruvian men and a male Venezuelan national. The suspects face between three to five years in prison if they’re found guilty.</p>
<p>Fishing, transportation and commercialisation of seahorses has been prohibited in Peru since August, 2004.</p>
<p><em>Photo source: <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.gob.pe/institucion/produce/noticias/52025-produce-decomisa-mas-de-12-3-millones-de-caballitos-de-mar-extraidos-ilegalmente-en-el-mar-del-callao" target="_blank">GOB.PE</a> </em></p>
