Bulgarian Customs Seize Two Million Baby Eels

W460

Bulgarian customs seized two million endangered baby eels concealed in the luggage of two Chinese men arriving from Spain, officials said Friday.

The tiny baby eels, or elvers, are seen by some as a specialty, fetching 500 euros ($560) per kilo in Europe and up to 1,300 euros in Asia, the customs agency said.

But European eels (Anguila Anguila) are classed as critically endangered species. Their sale is heavily regulated in the European Union and cannot be exported outside the bloc.

The eels in water-filled bags inside eight polystyrene boxes in the men's checked luggage weighed 45 kilos, meaning the haul could potentially have sold for almost 60,000 euros.

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