Police in Spain and France break up international eel smuggling gang

Officers arrest 27 people and seize tonnes of baby eels, seen as a delicacy but critically endangered

Police in Spain and France have arrested 27 people and seized 1.5 tonnes of live baby eels, as well as goods worth more than 2m, after breaking up a gang dedicated to breeding the critically endangered fishes and smuggling them to China.

Officers also recovered tonnes of frozen baby eels, called elvers, which are prized as a delicacy in Spain and parts of Asia, that had not been subject to any food safety checks and were not suitable for human consumption.