A multi-national operation co-ordinated by Europol and involving the Guardia Civil in Spain as well as French, Italian, Maltese and Portuguese authorities has resulted in 79 arrests and the seizure of more than 80 tonnes of illegal bluefin tuna as an illegal network handling an estimated 2500 tonnes each year has been dismantled.
Operation Tarantelo was launched when the Spanish Guardia Civil became aware of irregularities relating to bluefin tuna fishing in the Mediterranean. Investigations revealed that fish caught in Italian and Maltese waters was being traded illegally in Spain, imported through French ports.
While the fish caught in Maltese waters were illegally imported using documents from legal fishing and authorised farms, the fish caught in Italian waters arrived in Spain without documents or inspections. Although most of the fish was caught in Malta and Italy, there were also unauthorised catches in Spanish waters, with the illegally caught bluefin tuna was transported in false bottoms under the deck of a vessel.
According to Europol, this illegal traffic of around 2500 tonnes of fish annually is believed to have yielded profits of €5/kg, with a total profit of more than €12 million. Europol estimates this illegal traffic to be double that of the legal trade in bluefin, which is put at 1250 tonnes.
Health crime
The tuna business is often linked to other crimes such as food fraud or document fraud. The main risks for consumer health were due to the unhygienic conditions under which the fish was transported and stored. Sometimes the fish was hidden underwater after it was fished, awaiting transportation. The supply chain was interrupted several times, resulting in the tuna spoiling and presenting higher risks of food poisoning for consumers.
a number of cases of food poisoning were detected, due to the degradation of proteins from the unhygienic conditions in which the tuna was stored.
Europol’s support was crucial for the success of Operation Tarantelo, not only by providing analysis support but also providing permanent expertise and advice from environmental crime experts and co-ordinating meetings for information exchange.
On the action day, two mobile offices were deployed to Italy and Spain and Universal Forensic Extraction Devices (UFEDs) for on-the-spot support. The Guardia Civil arrested 79 suspects and carried out 25 searches.
In addition, police seized more than 80 tonnes of illegal bluefin tuna, as well as €500,000 in cash and seven luxury vehicles.
In Italy experts specialising in food health and safety, Carabinieri NAS, carried out 23 inspections and identified 45 suspects, reported one individual and seized 541kg of tuna as well as relevant documentation.
In Portugal the Food Safety and Economic Authority (ASAE) carried out one inspection including several administrative reports and examined relevant documents.
