27 individuals have been apprehended by European authorities for their alleged involvement in a smuggling ring, and a significant amount of endangered eels have been confiscated.

After a two-year investigation, European authorities have arrested 27 individuals for their involvement in an illegal eel operation. The operation spanned across France, Spain, Belgium, and Poland, and involved the smuggling of critically endangered eels into China, where they are highly valued. The Civil Guard, in collaboration with other organizations, seized 1½ tons of live eels and several more tons of frozen eels that had not undergone food safety checks. The live eels were returned to their natural environment to preserve their survival. The suspects are accused of running a criminal operation, and assets worth over 2 million euros were seized. Criminal groups have been concealing batches of live eels for years to send them to customers in Asia, where they can fetch over $5,000 per kilogram.
The Civil Guard stated that due to the endangered status of eels, their trade within the European Union is regulated by fishing and distribution quotas, while their export outside the EU is completely banned. To obtain the Fox News app, click on the provided link.