Somalia
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Thai officials embroiled in illegal seafood trade linked to Somalia


Thursday June 15, 2023

 
Deputy national police chief Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn, left, Customs Department director-general Patchara Anuntasilpa, centre, and Phanthong Loykulnanta, right, adviser to the department's development and tax collection management announced the arrests of seven suspects during a press conference on Thursday (Photo: Police TV)

Mogadishu (HOL) - Prominent figures, including five state officers and two civilians, have been arrested by Thai law enforcement, implicated in an illegal seafood trade sourced from a Somali fishing vessel. Deputy National Police Chief Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn confirmed the arrests, underscoring the extensive reach of illegal fishing operations in Somali waters.

For years, Somalia's coastal waters have been prey to Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. This has inflicted substantial ecological and economic damage. Despite numerous foreign vessels being discovered operating without permits in the Somali Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) since January 2023, efforts to enforce regulations remain hampered by resource limitations and security threats.
The Thai operation focused on a Somali vessel carrying 147 tonnes of frozen fish. Unable to present necessary import permits, the crew's haul was redirected from its original intended distribution to state officials and local communities, taking a detour into illicit trade.

Investigators unravelled the scheme after discovering a fraudulent list of 96 alleged buyers, tracing the seafood to a single buyer. The former head of the Bangkok Port Customs Office and other high-ranking customs officers were among the seven individuals arrested, suggesting substantial official involvement.

The confiscated seafood, estimated between 300 million to 400 million baht (approximately 8.6 million - 11.5 million USD), was primarily stored at the Bangkok Port Customs Office, with one container at the Phra Samut Chedi Customs Office in Samut Prakan province.

Authorities are scrutinizing allegations of a prominent fish agent selling illicit seafood at discounted prices, with an ongoing investigation also probing financial transactions linked to the suspects. They face charges including dereliction of duty, misuse of authority for personal gain, and aiding in criminal activity under the Thai Criminal Code.

During a recent press briefing, Customs Department head Patchara Anuntasilpa announced a disciplinary panel to address the actions of the implicated officials.

This case underscores the urgent need for global action against IUU fishing, a problem extending beyond Somalia. Recently, the Blue Marine Foundation lodged a complaint alleging UK insurers indirectly facilitated illegal fishing in the Indian Ocean by providing coverage for IUU-implicated vessels.