Vast international Eel smuggling network smashed down by French and Spanish investigators

_{In
Europe, the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) is managed by the European
Eel Regulation (Council Regulation (EC) No 1100/2007) and trade is strictly regulated
under CITES (listed in Appendix II). Since 2010, the trade of European eels
across Europe’s outer borders is prohibited. The successful coordination
between Europol and national authorities played a vital role in this operation
which is significant for the protection of eel as poaching (illegal, unreported,
and unregulated fishing (IUU)) and illegal export to Asia are amongst the
key factors explaining the decline of this migratory fish species, besides
pollution, migration barriers and fishing.}

_{After a temporary decrease
in eel smuggling during the COVID-19 pandemic – or at least a decrease in the
number of arrests – eel smuggling seems to regain importance.}  

_{During the investigation
it was found that up to 14 tonnes of glass eel fry and 31 tonnes of adult eel
were stolen from the legal circuit, which on the legal market would have
reached a value of more than 6.7 million euros.}

_{Read more on eel here}

_{Read more about the
operation:}

• _{Press release, Spanish
  Guardia Civil of 11 May 2023}
• _{Press
  release, French Douane}