Send to Kindle
Sofia Airport customs officers seized two million European baby eels which two Chinese nationals had tried to smuggle into Bulgaria, 22 January 2015. Photo BGNES
Customs officers at Sofia International Airport have thwarted an attempt to smuggle into Bulgaria two million European baby eels, a critically endangered species.
Two Chinese nationals travelling from Madrid to Sofia have tried to smuggle the eels packed up into eight styrofoam containers and declared as food items, The National Customs Agency said in a statement on Thursday.
European eel (Anguila Anguila) is classified as a critically threatened species of fish protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. It spawns and is born at sea, and then migrates into inland waters to eat and grow.
Trading in the species without a permit is forbidden worldwide.
European eels are selling in Europe at an average price of EUR 500 per kilogramme, while the price in Asian countries can reach up to EUR 1,300 per kilo, the statement read.
The baby eels were transported to the rescue center at the Public Aquarium in the city of Varna, on the Black Sea coast.
The smugglers were taken into 72-hour police custody and an investigation was launched.
We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!
In a last-minute move, GERB and DPS have put forward amendments to the Law on Gambling aimed at prohibiting the mass advertising of gambling, including on television, radio, and news websites
In a significant update to Bulgaria's identification system, the issuance of new ID cards will come with a higher price tag of BGN 30, compared to the current fee of BGN 18
Beginning May 7, commuters in Sofia can look forward to improved public transit services with the introduction of modern low-floor trams on line 6 and enhanced frequency on line 8
The price of retail lamb in Bulgaria has surged by 8.4% on an annual basis, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, with data sourced from SAPI indicating an average price of BGN 25.27 per kilogram as of April 10
Eurostat data indicates that Greece (161.9%), Italy (137.3%), France (110.6%), Spain (107.7%), and Belgium reported the highest public debt-to-GDP ratios among EU member states by the conclusion of 2023
Sofia, the capital city of Bulgaria, faces a mounting challenge with abandoned vehicles cluttering its streets, as reported by the Metropolitan Inspectorate
During the night, showers are expected in some areas, primarily in the western and northern regions, while the rest of the country will experience clearing skies
During the night, cloud cover will increase and thicken, with showers expected to develop from the southwest
Tomorrow, Bulgarians can expect a mix of sunshine and clouds as they step out into the springtime air
Over the next 24 hours, expect cloudy skies with rainfall across the eastern half of the country, where precipitation may be intense in some areas. Meanwhile, the western half will see clouds clearing during the day, becoming mostly sunny
Overnight, rainfall across the country will temporarily cease, with some areas experiencing breaks in the clouds
Overnight, the precipitation zone will gradually shift eastward, with significant amounts expected in parts of Central and Eastern Bulgaria, accompanied by thunderstorms
UN Happiness Report: Bulgaria's Astonishing Leap in Rankings
Bulgaria: 3 Regions With Lowest Life Expectancy - EU Report 2022
