Spanish Authorities Seize 190 Kilos of Smuggled Eels Worth €250,000 at Algeciras Port

The two suspects entered the port in a van from Tangier. Inspecting the vehicle, the agents found that they were transporting eels in isothermal boxes, the Guardia Civil said in a statement. After the inspection of the goods by the competent services of the port of Algeciras, it was transferred to secure facilities. The eels will be reintegrated into their natural environment.

To read: Moroccan Fined $7.8 Million for Smuggling Endangered Eels in Spain

Several criminal networks specializing in eel trafficking continue to carry out their illegal activities and smuggle eels through Spanish ports and airports, despite the ban since 2010 on importing and exporting live or processed eels to and from the European Union. This measure had been taken to protect this species, recalls Europa Sur.

To read: article 46342

To circumvent this measure, criminal organizations are now targeting Asia. They transport eel fry to fish farms in China through intermediaries to raise them for a year before selling them on the Chinese and especially Japanese markets, where eel is very consumed. The intercepted eels could have reached a value of more than 250,000 euros. The two defendants were brought before the competent judge who ordered their detention.