€10M Illegal Seafood Seized, 62 Arrested in Europol Operation

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The crackdown by Europol exposes the ways in which criminal networks are endangering human health and marine life.

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These quarter-inch workers build five-foot-tall mounds containing between 30,000 to 16 million insects - the largest above-ground ant colonies.

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These priceless species, which were taken from polluted rivers, were valued at €10 million.

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Six prominent criminals were among the 62 gang members that were taken into custody.

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Japanese clams, a common restaurant delicacy, were the smugglers' primary target.

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People are at risk of contracting diseases like hepatitis because contaminated mollusks can harbor dangerous bacteria and viruses.

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Asian laborers who harvested the clams were exploited and paid only €1 per kilogram.

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To draw attention to the pricing disparity, the crooks sold the shellfish for €25 per kilogram.

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The first established connection between environmental crime and human trafficking in the EU was found during this investigation.

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