Tenerife Fish Farm Theft Ring Busted: Five Arrested
Five people in Tenerife have been arrested for stealing and selling approximately 4,000 kilos of sea bass, worth €40,000, from local fish farms to restaurants.
Five people have been arrested in southern Tenerife for repeatedly stealing and selling stolen sea bass from local fish farms. The fish were then sold to restaurants.
The investigation was carried out by Civil Guard officers from the Fiscal and Border Patrol (PAFIF) and the Nature Protection Service Patrol (Seprona) in Playa de las Américas.
The five people arrested, aged between 38 and 70, live in Granadilla de Abona and Arona. Two are accused of repeated theft, while the other three are accused of knowingly buying stolen goods.
The sea bass were stolen from marine aquaculture cages off the coasts of Los Cristianos and Palmar, in the Arona area.
The investigation began after authorities were alerted to the possible fish thefts. This posed a financial risk to the fish farm and a health risk to consumers, as the stolen fish hadn't undergone any health checks.
Investigators discovered how the alleged thieves operated. They took advantage of the company's fishing days.
During unloading at the Los Cristianos dock, company staff, working with three people from outside the company, smuggled some of the sea bass out of the port in a vehicle.
They then sold the fish to others, who allegedly sold it to several restaurants in Tenerife without providing any proof of its legal origin.
Authorities set up surveillance near the Los Cristianos dock. They saw that after the company's boat docked and unloaded the fish, two workers went back onto the boat after everyone else had left.
They then unloaded fish into backpacks and plastic bags and put them in a vehicle, which they used to travel to the restaurants involved.
After following the car, officers saw them deliver some of the stolen fish to one restaurant and the rest to a relative of the owner of another restaurant.
At that point, investigators intervened and identified those involved.
In total, 120 kilos of fish were seized. However, it's estimated that around 4,000 kilos were stolen, with a sales value of approximately 40,000 euros.
The Port Police of Los Cristianos, part of the Port Authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, assisted in the investigation.
The arrested individuals and the case details have been handed over to the relevant legal authorities.