The Civil Guard, within the framework of operation ‘Pukua’, has dismantled a criminal organization that traded pre-cooked European eel for human consumption in the field of catering, through Spanish businessmen settled in Mexico. In total, there is one person detained, ten under investigation and six other legal entities also under investigation in Guipúzcoa, Madrid and Badajoz.
The operation has been directed by the Court of Instruction number four of San Sebastián, with the support of the Civil Guard of the three participating Spanish provinces. The action is framed within the context of operation ASKEA IV-LAKE, carried out under the coordination of Europol and in collaboration with several European countries.
As the Corps reported this Monday in a statement, the organization operated through legal commercial structures located in Spain and Mexicoin such a way that they obtained authorizations for trade to a non-EU third country (Mexico) of cooked elvers, through irregular customs declarations.
This process allowed criminals to access the automated product inspection circuits, using existing legal channels, which exempted them from all physical documentary control during the merchandise export process.
With this, the businessmen violated all the restrictions that the European eel species has imposed for its protection within the European Union, specifically, the imposition of zero export quota outside the EUwhich prohibits the departure of this product to third countries under any type of state or format.
Through Spanish businessmen in Mexico
As reported by the Civil Guard, the investigation began at the beginning of 2024 when the agents confirmed the export of cooked specimens of the species ‘anguilla anguilla’ (European eel) to Mexico, through irregular customs files.
Said trade was carried out under the infrastructure of the criminal organization investigated whose final destination was human consumption in the field of restoration, through different establishments managed by Spanish businessmen settled in Mexico.
Problem of the European eel
Currently, the European eel It is one of the most endangered native speciesits decline being so high that it was included in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites) and a zero quota for exports to third countries was established.
In this sense, illegal fishing and marketing of the species contributes to the deterioration of its populations. European countries work in a coordinated manner to stop illicit trafficking and promote its conservation.
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