NCIS seized a ton of shellfish in Alcochete

As announced, this Thursday the Maritime Police of Lisbon confiscated a ton of Japanese shellfish in the Samouco salt flats area, in the municipality of Alcochete, Setúbal district.

This is the second operation in the area since the beginning of the week.

The NCIS report explained that during an operation conducted by local command to locate, identify and control recipients selling Japanese shellfish, nine people were identified as transporting bivalve shellfish.

Marine police officers prepared a corresponding protocol and, as a precautionary measure, seized a total of one thousand kilograms of Japanese shellfish and two cars.

NCIS is developing a number of measures to combat illegal harvesting of Japanese shellfish, which is more active at this time of year, both from shellfish harvesters and from those who benefit from the profits from this activity.

On Monday, more than a ton of shellfish were seized and 530 people were identified, of whom 25 were charged.

The operation carried out on Monday aims, according to the National Maritime Authority (ANM), to ensure the public safety of citizens and local residents, as well as to identify people involved in human trafficking networks and illegal shellfish harvesting in the Tagus River.

In June, NCIS already carried out another major operation to combat criminal networks associated with the illegal fishing, trade and international trafficking of bivalve mollusks, charges were brought against 10 people.

During this operation, three men of Portuguese nationality and one Vietnamese were detained, and 249 immigrants were identified and taken to temporary premises.

More than two years of investigation by NCIS Criminal Investigation Command was at stake.