Moroccan Fined $7.8 Million for Smuggling Endangered Eels in Spain

The eels, still elvers, were packed in plastic bags with water and hidden in suitcases. The events took place on December 29, 2017 and constitute an offense of possession and commercialization of a protected species, according to Europa Sur.

The defendant was apprehended that day as he was about to board a boat bound for Tangier. During the inspection of his luggage, the agents discovered that he was transporting 65 kilos of eels, which were seized and sent to the Castellar zoo. But in the end, only 2 kilos survived, the same source specifies, adding that the damage caused by the extraction of these eels has been estimated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Sustainable Development at 7.2 million euros.

The accused, although informed of the date and time of the trial, did not appear. According to the version of the Civil Guards who carried out his arrest, the accused was reluctant to show his luggage, "which proves that he knew perfectly well what he was transporting and that it was illegal". As indicated in various reports, these eels are not intended for Morocco where they are not consumed, but rather for China where they are highly prized.

The seizure of these 65 kilos of eels led to the dismantling, in March 2018 in Algeciras, of a Chinese network trafficking this protected species. The members of this network were illegally exporting eels to Asian markets, and were making a net profit of 37.5 million euros. Ten people were arrested during the operation, including four Chinese, three Spaniards and three Moroccans. Searches carried out in Gijón, Piedras Blancas, Soto del Barco (Asturias), and Algeciras, also led to the seizure of 364 suitcases containing more than 5,000 kilos of eels.