Algerian Coral smuggled to America, international gangs drained 54 tons in 14 years
الشروق أونلاين
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Photo: archives
International and national gangs that are working in the field of hunting and smuggling corals, has exploited over 54 tons of red and black coral, during the last 14 years, considering that stopping the forensic fishing operation of coral since 2000 encouraged the growing phenomenon of international smuggling of coral wealth which is extending from Bejaia to El Kala and Taref coats (eastern Algeria), Houcine Bellot, Chairman of the National Committee for Fishing told Echorouk.
“Price per kilogram of red coral has exceeded 1800 Euros in the international market, which is equivalent to nearly 200.000 ZDZ per kg, which justified the growing demand on it. There are French, Tunisian and foreign gangs that trained local gangs to drain on coral reefs and smuggle them toward Italy and even to the United States”.
“Quantity that was seized since 2000 by security services, gendarmerie, customs and naval forces reached 18 tons, while quantity that was not seized is larger by three times. Two weeks ago 87 kg of red coral were seized in Kala, and other 34 kg of Black Coral were seized in Jijel, which means that the activity of these gangs poses an increasing and a major threat to the mining wealth that grows only by about two centimeters per year.
