BELIZE CITY, BELIZE, 31 July 2025–Illicit eel trafficking has been found to be tied to people involved in drugs and arms trafficking. Traffickers are reaping the benefits of the trade at the expense of our fishers. It is said to be an indication that authorities at every level need to do more to recognize crimes that are perhaps not as visible but just as pernicious.

Although eels are not among the mix of popular options for Caribbean cuisine, they are an expensive and highly sought-after delicacy in Asia and other parts of the world where Asian food is marketed. Eel trafficking is a high-value operation–with the value of the traded commodity rivaling cocaine–and it is being perpetrated by networks spanning countries, continents, and oceans.

The species targeted from this region is the American or Caribbean Eel (Anguilla rostrata). 

Photo © Joe Girgente, some rights reserved - Source: iNaturalist

In the Caribbean, CARICOM IMPACS and Auxilium Worldwide are continuing to work to get more insights into this matter and are working to support the region in confronting the challenges arising from illicit eel trade.

The American Eel’s geographic range spans several CRFM Member States, including Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Turks and Caicos Islands; in addition to other parts of the Americas. 

Geographic range of Anguilla rostrata | Map source: IUCN

Baby eels–or elvers–are harvested in varying locations destined for Asia, where they are raised at farms to adulthood to meet market demand. However, since these eels do not reproduce in captivity, fresh supplies are sought from the wild, threatening eel stocks, specifically, and marine biodiversity, generally.

An article originally published by El Espectador and republished by Earth Journalism indicates that glass eels fished in the Caribbean are worth about US$4,400 per kilogram, but the value triples to $12,000 per kilogram by the time they reach their final destination in Asia, via major trading routes. The reported value has reached as high as US$35,000 per kilo–comparable to the price of cocaine. 

Illicit eel trafficking has been detected in multiple Caribbean jurisdictions. However, beyond concerns over illicit seafood trafficking and food fraud is its association with other types of nefarious activities, including drug trafficking and money laundering. This makes it imperative for Caribbean countries to step up surveillance and action.

According to information published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the population of mature American eels is said to be on continuing decline. The various life stages, ranging from glass eel to adult, of all Anguilla species are harvested and traded on a global scale for consumption, with current demand predominantly driven by East Asian markets, in particular Japan and mainland China.

Although the American eel is plundered in this region, as well as Canada and the United States, a related species, Anguilla anguilla, also known as the European Eel, is also heavily exploited to critical endangerment levels. It has thus been listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) since 2009.

According to an IUCN European Eel assessment, a concerning pattern of exploitation is already apparent–when one Anguilla species or population becomes overexploited, industry moves to the next in order to fulfil demand.

Indications are that a proposal to list all eel species in Appendix II of CITES is being studied by the countries of the European Union and this could be presented at the 20th Conference of the Parties to CITES, to be held from 24 November to 5 December 2025 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

Our sources indicate that EUROPOL is working on this, as well, and would be happy if you share information with them, but it is a one way street and they will not be able to share any information with you.