PHILIPSBURG--Customs officers stationed at Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) had another hit this week. During a control at the cargo facilities, Customs officers found a box containing 206 king conch shells.
According to Customs on Thursday, no proper documentation could be provided for this shipment. The border experts believe the box originated from Haiti and may have reached St. Maarten on a Winair flight from Curaçao.
Customs reminds the public that the king conch is a species protected by local law and the international Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES).
The investigation into the origin of the contraband is ongoing. The intensified controls at the borders will continue.
