In the 2022 @WCL_News wildlife crime report @WWFUnitedKingdom & @trafficnetwork write on the need for proper recording & more convictions for cases of illegal wildlife trade – including eel trafficking on page 19.

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Read the full report here

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“Elver trafficking from Europe to Asia is one of the most significant wildlife crimes on Earth, worth an estimated £3 Billion in 2017, when retail sales of end product are considered. Whilst the current level of this crime is believed to be low in the UK, Heathrow can be one of the European airport hubs by which to transfer illegal exports; in 2020 there was a conviction of a UK fish trader who exported £6M worth of eels from Spain and France to China via Heathrow. It is welcome that this is a priority for the Border Force and we ask that all authorities to remain vigilant to this lucrative crime on a listed endangered species.”

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