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WORLD NEWS Saturday 7 april 2018

Spain, Portugal bust gang smuggling glass eels to Asia

ARITZ PARRA the bloc and regulated in- More than 100 tons of ju-
MADRID (AP) — Spanish ternal sales, although an venile eels evade wildlife
and Portuguese authori- underground black market traffic controls every year in
ties announced Friday that in eels has thrived in recent Europe, according to An-
they have taken down a years. drew Kerr, chairman of the
criminal network that has In the latest operation Sustainable Eel Group.
been making large profits against the traffickers, four "That's nearly one fourth
by smuggling glass eels to Chinese citizens, three of the total European eel
Asia. Spaniards and three Mo- natural stock," Kerr said Fri-
Authorities across the con- roccans were arrested in day. "It's the biggest wildlife
tinent have been trying to Spain in an operation co- crime action in Europe, and
tackle the smugglers, who ordinated by the European it's hidden from everyone."
take European glass eels to Union's police body, Eu- Friday's disclosure showed In this image released by the Guardia Civil on Friday April 6,
Asian countries, where they ropol. how the ring exported the 2018, a civil guard works with some eels.
are raised into adults and Spain's Civil Guard said 460 baby eels bought in Spain Associated Press
their meat commands high kilograms (1,014 pounds) through Portugal and Mo-
prices for local delicacies. of glass eels were seized in rocco and how the eels il Guard Coronel Jesus mate change and poach-
The trading of the Europe- southern Spain. Their mar- were concealed in suit- Galvez told reporters Friday ing has diminished stocks
an eel has been restricted ket value, once the eels cases or in cargo contain- in Madrid. Because eels of the Japonica Anguilla
since 2009 under the rules have grown into adults, ers and sent to Hong Kong, can't be bred in captivity, species. Since the glass eel
of the CITES convention was estimated at over 400 mainland China, South Ko- the wriggling glass eels —or fishing season began at the
for the international trade million euros ($490 million). rea and other Asian coun- elvers— are usually fished end of the fall, Portugal has
of endangered wildlife. One kilogram of baby eels tries. Police also seized 364 and raised to maturity in arrested 28 people and has
The European Union has can yield 1.3 tons of adult suitcases possibly used aquaculture companies in seized 1 ton of glass eels in
banned all exports outside eels, investigators say. to smuggle the eels, Civ- Asia, where pollution, cli- 18 raids.q

Paris conference raises over $11 billion to help Lebanon

By ELAINE GANLEY and ambassador to Lebanon Syria's war has hindered
BASSEM MROUE Bruno Foucher said on Twit- land exports to Jordan,
PARIS (AP) — International ter. Iraq and oil-rich Gulf Arab
donors pledged $11 billion Lebanese Prime Minister countries. Lebanon is also
in loans and grants Friday Saad Hariri outlined his hosting 1.2 million refugees
to help debt-ridden Leba- country's grim situation, — accounting for nearly
non at a conference in Par- saying his nation's stability is a quarter of the country's
is that also sought to ensure at stake. population.
the money is well spent in a "It is not the stability of Rampant corruption has
country hit hard by the Syr- Lebanon alone. This is the taken another kind of toll,
ian war next door. stability of the region and, hollowing out infrastructure
French President Emman- therefore, of our world," and basic services, with fre-
uel Macron praised the Hariri said, warning that a quent water and electricity
international community's collapse in Lebanon could cutoffs.
"unprecedented mobiliza- ricochet throughout the Last week, Lebanon's par-
tion" for Lebanon as crucial Middle East and Europe. liament approved a bud-
for building the conditions Fears of economic collapse Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, left, and French Foreign get — its second since
for a sustainable peace in in Lebanon are mounting Minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian attend an international conference 2005 — with a fiscal deficit
the Middle East. ahead of next month's par- in Paris, Friday, April 6, 2018. of $4.8 billion. The national
"At a time when the Levant liamentary election, the first Associated Press debt at the end of 2017
probably lives one of the in nine years. stood at $80 billion, or more
worst moments of its history French Foreign Minister The European Union also reforms, and mobilize the than 150 percent of gross
... it's more important than Jean-Yves Le Drian an- contributed 150 million eu- private sector, French offi- domestic product.
ever to preserve the most nounced that France ros in loans. cials have said. France has deep ties to
precious asset: a peace- would provide 400 million The meeting was not a Hariri, pointing out the im- Lebanon, a former protec-
ful, diverse and harmonious euros ($489.3 million) in classic donors' conference, pact of seven years of war torate.
Lebanon," Macron said. loans below market rates but meant to seek an in- in Syria, said that growth in Another conference on
In total, donors committed and would gift Lebanon vestment plan around in- Lebanon has dived from April 25 in Brussels will aim to
$10.2 billion in loans and another 150 million euros frastructure, water and en- 8 percent to barely 1 per- help Lebanon better cope
$860 million in gifts, France's ($183.5 million). ergy, delineate structural cent. with Syrian refugees.q