Philippine Authorities Seize Giant Clams After Discovering $25 Million Of Illegally Harvested Shells
04/17/21 AT 1:49 PM
Authorities in the Philippines have arrested four suspects for illegally harvesting almost $25 million worth of giant clams in Palawan.
The ecologically protected province is an area frequented by poachers and was raided on Friday, The Guardian reports. The bust of 200 tonnes of the creatures marks the largest giant clam shell takedown by authorities in the area.
The coast guard believes the clams that were seized were worth an estimated $24.8 million. This surpassed the record high record of 80 tonnes of giant clam shells that were confiscated from Johnson Island last month and worth $3.3 million.