After nearly six years of investigation, Spain's National Court has directed eight individuals and 12 companies, including Ricardo Fuentes Group, to trial over allegations of illegal tuna fishing and money laundering, Infobae and other local media reported.

The charges stem from the company's alleged involvement in the commercial sale of illegally caught bluefin tuna and laundering the significant profits gained from this illicit activity, La Verdad reported.

The investigating judge, Maria Tardon, has formally accused the two brothers leading the Cartagena-based firm, Jose and Juan Pedro Fuentes Garcia, of selling tuna under unsafe conditions and laundering substantial financial gains. These accusations are part of a larger case involving several companies and individuals linked to the illicit trade of bluefin tuna.

Among the accused are also senior figures from Grupo Pescnortmar -- Carlos Fernandez Fernandez, Javier Amoros, and Khalid Mouslim -- and a civil guard officer stationed in the town of Torre Pacheco who allegedly provided the network with inside information about ongoing investigations.

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The allegations include multiple severe charges: document falsification, public health violations, environmental crimes, consumer rights violations, disclosure of secrets, participation in a criminal organization, and money laundering. Tardon has given prosecutors and plaintiffs 10 days to either request a formal trial or drop the charges.

The court documents revealed that the illegally caught tuna was reportedly injected with additives to enhance its appearance, despite being in poor condition and posing serious public health risks. The investigation also uncovered that the facilities used by the accused operated without proper health inspections, maintaining deplorable sanitary conditions.

Moreover, the constant mixing of legally and illegally sourced tuna in the market created significant traceability issues, making it difficult to determine the origin, condition, and safety of the fish. Some samples analyzed showed dangerously high levels of histamine, leading to cases of food poisoning.

This trial is the result of Operation Tarantelo, initiated in 2018, which saw cooperation between the Civil Guard, Spanish authorities, and Europol. The operation led to 79 arrests and the seizure of over 80,000 kilograms of illegally sourced tuna.