A raid uncovered the illegal trade in European eels and crocodile-skin shoes

In the spring, officials from the Department of Environmental Protection carried out raids – inspecting premises selling wild animals, their parts or products made from them, as well as checking advertisements on social media and classifieds websites. Officials identified a total of four breaches.  

During the raids, checks are carried out to ensure that the trade in wild animals, their parts or products derived from them complies with legal requirements. Particular attention is paid to the protection of protected and endangered species.&

Officials visited various retail outlets and stepped up monitoring of online advertisements. A significant proportion of the trade in wild animals takes place on online classifieds portals and social media, which is why increasing attention is being paid to monitoring the online space. 

Officials from the Department of Environmental Protection also use an artificial intelligence-based tool (a ‘web crawler’) to search for advertisements; this automatically analyses the advertisements and helps to identify environmental violations.

Among the violations identified were the sale of crocodile leather products

Whilst monitoring classifieds websites, officials identified two cases of illegal trade.

In Vilnius, officials arranged to meet with an individual who intended to sell a revolver holster, possibly made from crocodile skin. To determine the product’s origin, officials seized the holster for forensic analysis. It was established that the holster was made from the skin of a member of the crocodile order (Latin: Crocodylia). All species within the Crocodylia order are protected; therefore, when trading in these animals, their parts or products, documents confirming lawful acquisition and origin are required. The seller did not have these documents, so the gun case was not returned to its owner.

Another similar case was identified in Kaunas. Here, officers, acting on information published on a classifieds website and having met with the seller, identified an individual selling crocodile-skin shoes. When the officers met with the seller, it transpired that the individual also lacked documents confirming the lawful acquisition and origin of the goods. The crocodile-skin shoes were seized. 

Reports of administrative offences were drawn up for both violations. Those responsible face fines ranging from 500 to 3,800 euros.

Illegal trade in eels

Another offence was detected in Kaunas following an inspection of a shop where three European eels were being sold. Although the person responsible had acquired the eels legally, they did not have a licence to trade in them. European eels are a protected species, so trade in them is subject to specific requirements – a licence is essential. The fish were seized and a report of an administrative offence was drawn up against the person responsible. He faces a fine of between 40 and 2,000 euros.