Customs officials in Finland processed five individuals after confirming a case of **whale meat trafficking**. This was due to an import of 36,000 kilos from Norway in 2022.
The meat was brought in the form of sausages to be used as **sled dog food**.
Following an analysis and preliminary investigation of the food, authorities concluded that half of the product’s content contained meat from a **protected specimen**.
### Whale Meat Trafficking: The Shocking Case in Finland
In total, in addition to the **36,000 kilos confiscated**, it was verified that 720,000 kilos of these dog sausages entered the country. The other half was poultry.
These sausages are manufactured in Norway **according to orders from a Finnish importer**. It is worth noting that this type of dog food is not sold on the market.
Possible charges that could be brought against the individuals include both an aggravated crime against nature conservation and a customs clearance offense.
“The dog food containing whale meat was imported basically due to its affordable price,” detailed in a statement **Tuomo Kunnari**, the main investigator of the Finnish Customs.
“These imported quantities were used to feed a large number of dogs,” he added.
The investigation was carried out in collaboration with **Finnish customs authorities and Swedish and Norwegian authorities**. According to a statement released by Finnish officials, they questioned five people in connection with the case.
This is a crime of an aggravated nature against the conservation of nature. The investigation began when Swedish customs authorities informed the Finnish authorities that a shipment was heading to the country with “anomalies” in the clearance documents.
### The Minke Whale, Especially Protected
The common minke whale (*Balaenoptera acutorostrata*) is one of the approximately **6000 species currently protected** by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) against overexploitation through trade.
CITES protects more than **40,000 species of animals and plants** threatened by international trade. The common minke whale is covered by the international Convention.
Additionally, Finnish law on the protection of whales and Arctic seals **prohibits imports to Finland** of whale meat and other derived products from all countries.
On the other hand, Norwegian CITES national legislation prohibits imports to Finland of the common minke whale for commercial purposes.
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