Police operation against the entry of irregular seafood in Spain
The National Police seized 10 tons of Japanese clams in an operation against the entry of irregular seafood in Spain from Portugal, with false documentation.
After an investigation initiated in 2015 thanks to the initial alert from the Maritime Police of Lisbon, the Spanish Police has immobilized 10 tons of Japanese clams (Ruditapes philippinarum), furtively caught in Portugal and illegally introduced in the country.
The clams were caught in contaminated areas of the Portuguese coast. Last year the Portuguese Police seized another 5 tons of the same clam.
The criminal organization obtained huge profits with a simple operation, given that Spain is deficient of this seafood: they bought the clam to the Portuguese poachers at 3-3.5 €/kg, which afterwards was sold to the Spanish nurseries at around 7 €/kg. In the Spanish market, the clam reached 10-12 €kg.
Source: ABC