'Inherent Cruelty': 40 Illegal Shark Fins Seized From Private Jet Intercepted In CA

SACRAMENTO, CA — A private jet loaded with 40 shark fins was intercepted after authorities received a tip the plane was headed to California, officials said.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced last week they worked with federal authorities to locate the plane after receiving the tip in February 2026 while the private jet was traveling from Hawaii.

CDFW said officers boarded the plane after it landed. The individuals who were on the plane admitted to authorities possessing shark fins and consented to a search of the jet.

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Authorities did not disclose the city where the private jet landed.

Officers seized a total of 40 shark fins in a dried and frozen state, officials said.

Possessing detached shark fins is illegal in California and the United States. In 2011, the state passed Assembly Bill 376, which established Fish and Game Code 2021 and made it unlawful to possess, sell, offer for sale, trade or distribute shark fins.

Officials said the case is an example of the "continued demand" for illegal wildlife specimen and the importance of enforcement efforts to disrupt wildlife trafficking.

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"The practice of harvesting sharks solely for their fins is a cruel and destructive act. After their fins are removed, sharks are released back into the ocean where they slowly die, often by drowning, as most species must swim continuously to pass water over their gills," officials said.

"Beyond the inherent cruelty, shark finning devastates vital ocean ecosystems. Sharks are apex predators that help maintain the balance of marine life, and their loss disrupts global ecosystems that we all depend on."

CDFW said a case has been filed with "the appropriate" district attorney's office and an investigation is ongoing.

Officials urged anyone who sees shark fin on a menu at restaurants or for sale in businesses to contact CDFW Cal-TIP at 1-888-334-2258.

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