Police have arrested more than 256 people and seized 25 tonnes of endangered eels and elvers (young eels) which were selling at a premium in Asia, Spain's Guardia Civil said on Thursday.
Authorities from 32 countries took part in the "historic" police operation, coordinated by Europol, the Guardia Civil said in a statement.
In Spain, 30 people were arrested and 18 tonnes of glass eels and adult eels were seized, with a combined worth of more than €20 million on the black market.
Spanish authorities say that they have been able to reintroduce almost two tonnes of adult eels and one tonne of glass eels into their natural environment.
The glass eels, which according to the Guardia Civil sell for up to €9,000 a kilo in Asia, are exported alive in "suitcases equipped for their transport" where they can survive for "up to 42 hours", the Guardia Civil explained.
The rest of the fish seized were frozen, with no respect for health guidelines, the Guardia Civil further detailed.
Smuggling of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) is one of the causes of the 75% decline in its population over 30 years. The export of this species, which is threatened with extinction, has been banned outside the European Union since 2010.
In Spain, this operation has led to the dismantling of three trafficking organisations with ramifications in France and Portugal.
