Slippery Business: Investigating Glass Eel Trafficking Networks through Crime Script Analysis

• In Event: Criminology of the Seas

Abstract

The smuggling of European eels, fueled by the high global demand for eel meat, poses a significant threat to the species’ already declining populations. While habitat loss and environmental changes contribute to their endangerment, the trafficking of European glass eels has emerged as a major conservation and law enforcement challenge. To better understand this transnational criminal activity, we applied a crime script analysis framework to examine the process by which glass eels are illegally transported from one of the primary source countries—Spain—to eel farms in Asia. Our analysis reveals that eel smuggling is a highly organized operation requiring specialized networks, concealment techniques, and logistical coordination. Our findings highlight the necessity for targeted intervention strategies at each stage of the smuggling process, from the initial gathering of poached and legally fished glass eels to cross-border transport and destination. By shedding light on the operational dynamics of European eel smuggling, this study aims to inform more effective enforcement policies and conservation efforts to protect this critically endangered species.

Authors

• Monica Pons Hernandez, University of Bergen

• Gohar Petrossian, John Jay College of Criminal Justice

• Nerea Marteache, California State University, San Bernardino