The Guardia Civil has arrested two men, aged 43 and 36, for introducing stolen aquaculture fish into the market and selling it as if it were a wild catch. The suspects face charges relating to public health offences, receiving stolen goods, falsification of documents, and other offences concerning the market and consumers. Subsequent analyses confirmed the presence of medicinal residues in part of the seized product.
The operation commenced after information was received regarding the possible sale at Santa Pola fish market of fish stolen from fish farms that had undergone veterinary treatments. Officers verified that forty boxes of sea bass and amberjack had been presented the previous day and distributed to buyers in Alicante, Barcelona, Tarragona, and Mallorca.
In parallel, it was established that a fish farm in San Pedro del Pinatar had suffered the theft of around 700 kilos of amberjack, a species currently in a withdrawal period after receiving medication. The commercialised sea bass also showed characteristics consistent with aquaculture specimens from the area.
Given the risk to public health, the Guardia Civil coordinated the immediate immobilisation of the distributed fish and alerted Public Health services. Health inspectors took samples of the recovered product, and analyses subsequently confirmed the presence of medicines.
The investigation determined that the fish had been introduced into the commercial circuit using false documentation that simulated a legal origin, thereby concealing its illicit source and true nature. Consequently, it was sold as wild catch, despite its aquaculture origin.
In total, 227 kilos of sea bass and amberjack were recovered and immobilised, preventing them from reaching the final consumer. The two arrested men were released after appearing before the judicial authorities.
The action was carried out by Seprona of Alicante, and the proceedings have been forwarded to the Instruction Section of the Court of First Instance of Elche. The investigation remains open to determine the total quantity of stolen fish and fully clarify the events.
