They had created an association dedicated to the capture and processing of sea cucumbers, also known as sea cucumbers, whose fishing is prohibited. This led to the gradual disappearance of the species from the Ionian coast.
The discovery was made by the soldiers of the air-naval department of the Guardia di Finanza of Taranto, who arrested 21 people (9 in prison and 12 under house arrest) accused of criminal association and environmental disaster. Sea cucumbers are essential for marine ecosystem balance and biodiversity.
The investigations, which began in 2021, led in 2022 and 2023 to the seizure of over five tons of echinoderms illegally fished on the Taranto coast, of two rooms used illegally for the storage and processing of sea cucumbers, and the arrest of a 50-year-old Chinese citizen who had created a laboratory without health authorizations, complete with dryers for the processing and export of Holothuroidea species.
The organization used foreign hauliers to ship the live product to Greece and Turkey and unwitting operators from well-known logistics companies for domestic and foreign shipments of the dried product. Dried sea cucumbers are in high demand in China, with a value ranging from 700 to 3,000 euros per kilogram.
