Ports in Cincinnati, Kentucky part of operation that seized 50K dried shark fins in U.S. last year, wildlife officials say
TIME NOW JUST ABOUT 643 KICKOFF TO GO WITH A LIVE LOOK OVER DOWNTOWN CINCINNATI. GOT SOME CLOUDS, A LITTLE BIT OF RAIN HANGING AROUND. ONE THING IMPORTANT TO NOTE WAS CLERMONT SCHOOLS. AMELIA ELEMENTARY CLOSED FOR THE DAY DEALING WITH A POWER OUTAGE OUT THERE. YOU PROBABLY ALL GOT THE TEXTS AND EMAIL AND ALL THAT STUFF, BUT IF YOU’RE WATCHING AND HAVE A BIT OF YOUR PHONE, AMELIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLOSED FOR THE DAY DUE TO A POWER OUTAGE OUT IN WESTERN CAROLINA. LOCAL SCHOOLS. OR IF YOU’RE A GRANDPARENT AND OR UNCLE WHO’S ABOUT TO GET THAT PHONE CALL. HEY, ARE YOU FREE TODAY? THE KIDS ARE GOING TO BE HOME, SO OF COURSE WE’LL KEEP YOU UPDATED AS WE CONTINUE TO HEAD THROUGH THE MORNING HERE. BUT OTHERWISE IT’S GOING TO BE A PRETTY NICE DAY. YES, ALL THE KIDS THAT MAYBE AREN’T GOING TO SCHOOL CAN GET OUTSIDE LATER IN THE DAY BECAUSE IT WILL BE NICER. I MEAN, WE’RE TALKING A LITTLE BREEZY, BUT UPPER 70S, SO A NICE START. THE MORNING RAIN HAS COME AND GONE IN MANY TOWNS. THERE COULD BE A STRAGGLER SPRINKLE LATER TODAY, BUT YOU CAN SEE THE BULK OF THIS. THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST. THE WETTEST. IT’S GOING TO BE ALL DAY. AND A LOT OF THE RAIN NOW KICKING OUT TO OUR SOUTHEASTERN MOST COMMUNITIES. SO RIGHT NOW, SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF BROWN COUNTY, SEEING SOME STEADY RAIN FROM GEORGETOWN, OHIO DOWN INTO AUGUSTA, KENTUCKY, OVER TOWARD RIPLEY AND THEN TRAILING BACK ALONG ROUTE 52. SOME SCATTERED SHOWERS THERE OVER INTO ADAMS COUNTY. LIGHT SCATTERED SHOWERS AND A FEW SPRINKLES UP INTO HIGHLAND COUNTY. BUT YOU’LL NOTICE MOST PLACES HAVE DRIED OUT. I’M NOT GOING TO RULE OUT A STRAY SHOWER HERE OR THERE AS WE GO THROUGH THE DAY, BUT THE BULK OF IT WAS THIS EARLY MORNING LINE. IT IS 70 DEGREES RIGHT NOW IN CINCINNATI, AND OUR TEMPERATURES TODAY SHOULD CLIMB UP TO RIGHT AROUND 79 OR 80. SO ANOTHER WARM ONE. IT WILL BE WINDY AT TIMES. AS WE GO THROUGH THE WEEK. YOU’RE GOING TO SEE THE RAIN ICON PRETTY FREQUENTLY ON THE SEVEN DAY. BUT TODAY OBVIOUSLY NOT REALLY A BIG DEAL. TOMORROW SHOULD BE GOOD. IT’S WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY THAT WE HAVE OUR BETTER CHANCES FOR SCATTERED RAIN OR STORMS, MAINLY IN THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING, WEDNESDAY AND AGAIN SECOND HALF OF THE DAY THURSDAY. THIS MORNING’S RAIN CHANCES ARE QUICKLY ON THE WAY OUT. EXPECT MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES THROUGH THE MORNING. I THINK THE SUN WILL TRY TO PEAK OUT A LITTLE BIT FOR US INTO THE AFTERNOON, SO LOOKING GOOD FOR US INTO THE SECOND HALF OF THE DAY. 12 HOUR FORECAST SHOWS ABOUT 79 DEGREES, WITH ABOUT A 15 MILE AN HOUR SUSTAINED. WIND COULD HAVE A COUPLE OF GUSTS UP TO ABOUT THE 30 MILE AN HOUR RANGE INTO THE AFTERNOON. SO LOOKING FAIRLY DRY TODAY. TOMORROW, RAIN CHANCES KICK UP AGAIN ON WEDNESDAY AND WE’LL TAKE A LOOK AT A RETURN OF MAYBE SOME WINTER TIME TEMPERATURES COMING UP IN A FEW MINUTES. ALL RIGHT, KELLY, WHAT’S GOING ON ON THE ROADS. HONESTLY, IT’S BEEN A REALLY NICE MORNING. SO FINGERS CROSSED THAT IT CONTINUES TO STAY THAT WAY. TAKE A LOOK HERE. 275 THERE WAS DEBRIS IN THE ROAD. YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE A CREW CAME BY AND SCOOTED IT OVER TO THE MEDIAN THERE. SO I GUESS MAYBE THEY’RE WONDERING IF SOMEBODY WILL COME BACK. UNCLEAR WHAT IT IS. SO WE’LL KEEP AN EYE ON THAT. BUT TRAFFIC IS MOVING JUST FINE THERE THROUGH THERE NOW. AND HONESTLY, WE HAVE NO DELAYS, NO SLOW SPOTS ON OUR MAP RIGHT NOW. YOU CAN SEE ALL THOSE EXCLAMATION POINTS. THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, ARE NOT CAUSING MAJOR ISSUES. IF YOU’RE HEADING INTO DOWNTOWN, OBVIOUSLY THINGS ARE LOOKING GOOD. REOPENED THERE ON 75 AFTER THE WEEKEND CLOSURE, WHICH EVEN OPENED A DAY EARLY, WHICH WAS EXCELLENT. BUT TRAFFIC OBVIOUSLY STARTING TO PICK UP. SO WE LOVE WHAT WE’RE SEEING RIGHT NOW. WE’LL KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON IT, BUT IF ANYTHING DOES POP UP HERE, WE WILL BE KEEPING YOU COVERED ON WLWT. MORGAN. ALL RIGHT, KELLY, THANK YOU. WE HAVE AN UPDATE HERE. BREAKING RIGHT NOW. POWER RESTORED AFTER A CAR CRASHED INTO A UTILITY POLE IN MOUNT AIRY. THIS HAPPENING ALONG WEST FORK ROAD AROUND 4 A.M., AND DUKE ENERGY CREWS RESTORED POWER TO MORE THAN 2000 CUSTOMERS. AROUND SIX DISPATCHERS TELL US THE DRIVER SUFFERED NON-LIFE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. NOT CLEAR, THOUGH, WHAT CAUSED THAT CRASH. 646 HAPPENING TODAY A TRIAL SET TO BEGIN FOR A FATHER CHARGED IN THE DEATH OF HIS THREE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER. IT COMES AFTER THAT YOUNG GIRL WAS MAULED BY DOGS DURING THE WLWT NEWS 5 DANIELLE DINDAK IS LIVE FROM THE HAMILTON COUNTY COURTHOUSE THIS MORNING. DANIELLE, THIS IS A BENCH TRIAL. NO JURY. SO JUDGES WILL MAKE THE FINAL CALL. EXACTLY RIGHT, STEVEN. IT WILL BE UP TO A PANEL OF JUDGES TO DECIDE IF WARREN HOUSTON IS GUILTY OR INNOCENT. NOW, IN FEBRUARY, HE DID PLEAD NOT GUILTY TO THE CHARGES OF MANSLAUGHTER AND CHILD ENDANGERMENT IN DECEMBER OF 2024, KINGSLEY WRIGHT WAS SPENDING TIME WITH HER DAD FOR THE HOLIDAYS. IN COURT, PROSECUTORS CLAIMED HOUSTON PUT THE CHILD ASLEEP ON THE COUCH WITH THE DOGS IN A NEARBY ROOM WITH NO BARRIERS OR A GATE BETWEEN THE YOUNG GIRL AT LEAST ONE OF THE DOGS IN THE HOME WAS DANGEROUS AND THE CAGES WERE UNSAFE. 15 MINUTES AFTER HOUSTON WENT TO BED, THEY ATTACKED THE THREE YEAR OLD. HOUSTON DIDN’T CALL 911 UNTIL 8 A.M. THE NEXT MORNING. NOW, THIS BENCH TRIAL IS EXPECTED TO START AT 9 A.M. OF COURSE, WE’LL CONTINUE TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE THROUGHOUT THE REMAINDER OF THIS CASE. REPORTING LIVE AT THE HAMILTON COUNTY COURTHOUSE. DANIELLE DINDAK WLWT NEWS 5. DANIELLE. THANK YOU. A WOMAN ACCUSED OF OPENING FIRE ON A PERSON IN ROSELAWN IS EXPECTED TO BE ARRAIGNED IN COURT THIS MORNING. 25 YEAR OLD MAURICE POWERS HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH FELONIOUS ASSAULT AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. CINCINNATI POLICE SAY THEY WERE CALLED TO REDDING ROAD AND FOREST AVENUE AT AROUND 11:00 SATURDAY NIGHT. WHEN THEY ARRIVED, THEY FOUND A PERSON WITH A GUNSHOT WOUND. THE PERSON SAID THEY’D BEEN SHOT AT A DIFFERENT LOCATION ON NEW BEDFORD AVENUE, AND THAT’S WHERE INVESTIGATORS FOUND POWERS. NOW, THE PERSON WITH THE GUNSHOT WOUND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL IS EXPECTED TO BE OKAY. POWERS IS SCHEDULED TO BE ARRAIGNED AT 9:00 THIS MORNING. DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE ERIC SWALWELL HAS DROPPED HIS BID FOR CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR FOLLOWING SEXUAL MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS. IN A STATEMENT POSTED TO X, SWALWELL ANNOUNCED HE IS SUSPENDING HIS CAMPAIGN AND APOLOGIZED FOR WHAT HE CALLED MISTAKES IN JUDGMENT. THE MOVE COMES AFTER A FORMER STAFFER ACCUSED HIM OF SEXUALLY ASSAULTING HER TWICE WHILE SHE WAS TOO INTOXICATED TO GIVE CONSENT. SWALWELL HAS DENIED THESE ALLEGATIONS. THE MANHATTAN DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE TOLD NBC NEWS THAT THEY HAVE OPENED AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MATTER. STILL ON THIS ONE, GROWING UNCERTAINTY FOR TSA WORKERS THIS MORNING, SENATE LAWMAKERS RETURN TO CAPITOL HILL. THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WARNING AGENTS THAT THEIR PAYCHECKS COULD STOP AGAIN UNLESS CONGRESS REACHES A DEAL TO END THE PARTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. THE LAST PAYCHECK WENT OUT FRIDAY. IT INCLUDED BACK PAY THROUGH APRIL 4TH AFTER AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT WAS SIGNED LAST MONTH BY PRESIDENT TRUMP. MEANWHILE, GOP LEADERS SAY THEY DO PLAN TO PUSH A TWO TRACK APPROACH TO FUND DHS. ONE PLAN WOULD FUND THE AGENCY, BUT LEAD OUT ICE AND BORDER PATROL, AND DOES NOT INCLUDE THE IMMIGRATION REFORMS THAT DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR. THE SECOND OPTION WOULD FUND IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT THROUGH A PARTY LINE SPENDING BILL. SENATE LAWMAKERS BACK ON CAPITOL HILL TODAY, WITH HOUSE MEMBERS EXPECTED TO RETURN TOMORROW, KEEPING AN EYE ON TRAFFIC. STILL IN NEWS TO GO 75 NORTHBOUND ALL REOPENED AFTER THAT PLANNED CONSTRUCTION OVER THINGS GOING A FULL DAY AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. AND THIS IS A LIVE LOOK AT THE BRANT SPENCE BRIDGE AS TRAFFIC FLOWS HEADING NORTHBOUND AND SOUTHBOUND WITH NO MAJOR ISSUES. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CLOSED OR WAS SUPPOSED TO BE CLOSED UNTIL FIVE THIS MORNING, BUT AGAIN, THEY WERE ABLE TO FINISH IT YESTERDAY AT 645 AND TRAFFIC IMPACTS ARE STILL AHEAD. THIS IS PART OF THE LARGER BRANT SPENCE BRIDGE CORRIDOR PROJECT. AND COMING UP THIS WEEKEND, THE SOUTHBOUND LANES WILL UNDERGO THE SAME CLOSURE U.S. 50 TO FREEMAN AVENUE. THOSE ENTRANCE RAMPS AND 75 WILL BE CLOSED. SO WE’LL BE KEEPING YOU UPDATED AS WE CONTINUE THIS WEEK. OHIO LAWMAKERS ARE PROPOSING MAJOR CHANGES TO SPORTS BETTING, JUST THREE YEARS AFTER IT BECAME LEGAL, THE PLAN WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY LIMIT HOW AND WHERE PEOPLE CAN PLACE BETS ACROSS THE STATE. WLWT NEWS FIVE’S NICOLE APONTE JOINING US LIVE FROM THE BANKS WITH WHAT THESE CHANGES COULD MEAN. NIKOLE. MEGAN, GOOD MORNING TO YOU. THESE PROPOSED BILLS WOULD DRAMATICALLY SCALE BACK SPORTS BETTING IN THE STATE OF OHIO. UNDER THIS PLAN, MOBILE BETTING WOULD BE COMPLETELY ELIMINATED. YOU’D HAVE TO GO IN PERSON TO AN AUTHORIZED CASINO TO PLACE A BET IN THE FIRST PLACE. IT’S BEING CALLED THE SAVE OHIO SPORTS ACT. THE LEGISLATION WOULD ALSO BAN SEVERAL POPULAR TYPES OF BETS, INCLUDING PROP BETS AND GAME BETTING AND PARLAYS. THERE WOULD ALSO BE STRICT LIMITS, CAPPING BETS AT $100 EACH AND ALLOWING NO MORE THAN EIGHT BETS IN A 24 HOUR PERIOD. BETS ON COLLEGE SPORTS WOULD BE BANNED, AND ADVERTISING FOR SPORTS BETTING WOULD NO LONGER BE ALLOWED IN ARENAS OR DURING BROADCASTS. LAWMAKERS BEHIND THE PROPOSAL SAY THE CHANGES ARE AIMED AT REDUCING PROBLEM GAMBLING AND PROTECTING THE INTEGRITY OF SPORTS. SUPPORTERS SAY CHANGES ARE NEEDED TO ADDRESS FINANCIAL LOSSES TIED TO GAMBLING, WHILE OTHERS ARGUE IT WILL DECREASE TAXABLE REVENUE AND TAKE AWAY FUNDING FROM THE STATE. NOW THESE BILLS HAVE JUST BEEN INTRODUCED, HAVE NOT BEEN ASSIGNED TO A COMMITTEE JUST YET. THERE’S NO REAL TIMELINE ON WHEN ANY DECISIONS COU
Ports in Cincinnati, Kentucky part of operation that seized 50K dried shark fins in U.S. last year, wildlife officials say
Updated: 11:25 AM EDT Apr 13, 2026
Editorial Standards ⓘ
Shipments of illegally-trafficked dried shark fins were intercepted in Ohio and Kentucky last year, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.Officials say the seizures were part of a larger investigation, which led to the seizure of roughly 50,000 dried shark fins across 20 shipments at multiple ports across the country. The seizures totaled more than 1,600 pounds of fins, valued at over $1 million.USFWS says the first shipment was discovered by inspectors in Anchorage, Alaska, prompting a wider investigation, which led to additional shipments being intercepted in Anchorage, Louisville and Cincinnati.The shipments were each disguised as car parts and were on their way from Mexico to Hong Kong. They were found to be linked to a larger trafficking network.Wildlife officials say the fins were “predominantly” from silky sharks and bigeye thresher sharks, both of which are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). All fins were seized for multiple violations of wildlife laws.USFWS says information concerning the violations has been shared with the organization’s international partners to “support appropriate enforcement actions.”Going into effect in December 2022, the Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act prohibits the possession, transport and sale of shark fins in the U.S. with limited, narrow exceptions.
Shipments of illegally-trafficked dried shark fins were intercepted in Ohio and Kentucky last year, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Officials say the seizures were part of a larger investigation, which led to the seizure of roughly 50,000 dried shark fins across 20 shipments at multiple ports across the country.
The seizures totaled more than 1,600 pounds of fins, valued at over $1 million.
USFWS says the first shipment was discovered by inspectors in Anchorage, Alaska, prompting a wider investigation, which led to additional shipments being intercepted in Anchorage, Louisville and Cincinnati.
The shipments were each disguised as car parts and were on their way from Mexico to Hong Kong. They were found to be linked to a larger trafficking network.
Wildlife officials say the fins were “predominantly” from silky sharks and bigeye thresher sharks, both of which are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). All fins were seized for multiple violations of wildlife laws.
USFWS says information concerning the violations has been shared with the organization’s international partners to “support appropriate enforcement actions.”
Going into effect in December 2022, the Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act prohibits the possession, transport and sale of shark fins in the U.S. with limited, narrow exceptions.
