Le Figaro Bordeaux
The customs officer's flair struck again.
Sunday, during an unexpected check at the Saugnacq-et-Muret (Landes) toll on the A63, a customs officer from Arcachon spotted a suspicious truck.
Inside, a container containing 28.7 kilos of frozen glass eels... And a disturbing installation: an oxygenated tank allowing these live eel fry to be transported.
Endangered species particularly hunted in the South-West, these fish represent a juicier traffic than drugs or weapons.
Since their sale is restricted within the European area, the black markets are crazy about them.
These pibales with which the Asians are in love are sold for up to 5000 euros per kilo across the oceans according to customs.
Read alsoA vast traffic of glass eels estimated at 18.5 million euros dismantled in France
On that day, the agent who decides to control this utility excels.
Stroke of luck ?
“
There were no apparent external signs, but the behavioral reaction of the drivers to our sight, the times at which they circulate and the expertise help a lot
”, explains to
Figaro
Michaël Faucher, divisional head in Bordeaux Mérignac of the regional direction. customs.
Auditioned by the service of Judicial Investigations of Finances (SEJF) of Bordeaux after their arrest, the two drivers are unable to present their fishing license.
A few days later, the investigations made it possible to "
dismantle in the Paris region a place of clandestine storage of glass eels which was used regularly
".
On the spot, 150 kilos of pibales are seized.
This traffic is valued at nearly one million euros by customs.
Alive this time, these eel fry will be released into their natural environment with the support of the French Office for Biodiversity.
A judicial investigation has been opened and entrusted to the Specialized Interregional Jurisdiction (JIRS) of Bordeaux.
Charged, the two drivers were remanded in custody.