Four Chinese arrested for smuggling glass eels in Spain-Portugal bust on ‘the biggest wildlife crime in Europe’
Nearly one fourth of the total European eel natural stock is smuggled past authorities every year, an expert said - making it ‘the biggest wildlife crime action in Europe’
Four Chinese citizens were among ten people arrested after Spanish and Portuguese authorities brought down a criminal network that had been making lucrative profits by smuggling glass eels to Asia.
Spain’s Civil Guard said 460 kilograms (1,014 pounds) of glass eels were seized in southern Spain with a market value of over €400 million (US$490 million).
More than 100 tonnes of juvenile eels are smuggled past wildlife traffic controls every year in Europe, according to Andrew Kerr, chairman of the Sustainable Eel Group, a regional platform of scientists and industry stakeholders.
“That’s nearly one fourth of the total European eel natural stock,” Kerr said. “It’s the biggest wildlife crime action in Europe, and it’s hidden from everyone.”
The joint operation - which was concluded in March but only revealed on Friday - also saw three Spaniards and three Moroccans arrested in Spain in an operation coordinated by the European Union’s police body.
