Handout/Philippine Coast Guard
The Philippine Coast Guard said Friday it had seized more than 80 tons of illegally harvested giant clam shells worth over U.S. $3 million dollars, in what is considered the largest haul of its type.
Local environmental authorities worked with the coast guard, the Philippine Marines and other authorities to raid a home on Johnson Island, in the remote island province of Palawan, where the 324 giant clam shells were found on Wednesday, officials said.
A local village chief faces arrest on suspicion of the illegal harvesting of the clams, which is “the biggest haul of its kind in Palawan,” the coast guard said in a statement.