Joint operation of the Tax Agency and the National Police together with the Portuguese Maritime Police

• More than 400 kilos of elvers illegally caught in the Miño River without the required licences and permits were seized.
• Two people were arrested in Pontevedra and two raids and searches were carried out, in which nearly 77,000 euros were seized, while in Portugal nine raids and searches were carried out, eleven people were charged and six vehicles were seized.

March 16, 2023.- Officials of the Customs Surveillance Service of the Tax Agency, in a joint operation with the National Police and the Maritime Police of Portugal and the Attached Unit of Galicia, have dismantled an international criminal organization allegedly dedicated to trafficking in protected species. 400 kilos of elvers have been seized and two people have been arrested in Pontevedra, in addition to two raids and searches, with the collaboration of veterinarians from the Coast Guard Service of the Xunta de Galicia, where nearly 77,000 euros have been seized. In addition, nine raids and searches have been carried out in Portugal, eleven people have been charged and six vehicles have been seized.

The main members of this organisation were in Portugal, with branches in Spain, and were dedicated to the acquisition, storage, distribution and even export of elvers caught illegally in the Miño River without the corresponding permits and licences.

After gathering sufficient evidence, investigators decided to exploit the operation in both countries, making use of the different mechanisms of international police coordination and collaboration.

In Spain, two raids were carried out and two people were arrested in Pontevedra. The agents seized almost 77,000 euros and 400 kilos of elvers, which were placed at the disposal of the court under two European investigation orders from Portugal and processed through Eurojust.

In Portugal, the Maritime Police, in addition to participating in the actions carried out in Spain, carried out nine raids and searches and charged another eleven people as members of the alleged international criminal organisation. Six vehicles were also seized.

All those arrested are charged with alleged crimes of trafficking in protected species, document falsification, VAT fraud and possible smuggling violations.