Police arrested 27 individuals as part of an illegal eel trafficking investigation.
The Civil Guard said that 27 people have been detained in Spain and France as part of a criminal investigation intoAccording to the law enforcement agency, 1.5 tons of live eels were seized, along with "several tons of frozen batches" of eels not suitable for the food chain. More than €2 million in assets were also confiscated.
Police searched 30 homes, businesses, and "clandestine hatcheries" in Spain, France, Belgium, and Poland. "It is a highly valued product in some Asian countries" the agency explained on Thursday, adding that the consumption makes it reach values of more than $5000 per kilogram. "...which is why, for years, criminal groups and organizations are dedicated to concealing batches of live eels and send them to customers in Asia." "The recovered eel has been returned to the natural environment to preserve its survival," the Civil Guard continued.