Marine police arrested five people and charged four accused in an operation on Wednesday that seized 12.3 tonnes of Japanese shellfish in Palmela, the National Maritime Administration (NAM) said on Thursday.
According to the AMN report, in addition to the seizure of 12 tons of Japanese shellfish, believed to belong to one of the largest national recipients of this bivalve, four trucks, approximately 3,500 euros in cash, as well as various documents and equipment related to the operation, the shipment of bivalve shellfish by land was also seized.
AMN also claims that the four accused are citizens of Moldova and Ukraine.
According to AMN, the operation was launched following an investigation by the Central Criminal Investigation Department (UCIC) of the Maritime Police, which began about four years ago and had the support of the Tax Administration (AT) and the Spanish National Police.
In a mega-operation against criminal networks related to the illegal harvesting, trade and international trafficking of Japanese shellfish carried out in the Palmela area of Setúbal, several judicial search and arrest warrants were executed outside a home.
ANM also states that, according to the conclusion of the Directorate General of Food and Veterinary Medicine (DGAV), the seized shellfish will be destroyed because they are “unfit for human consumption.”
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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