With the credit crunch, one wouldn’t imagine that black market caviar
would be a high priority for the UK government. But it has deemed the
issue pressing enough to appoint an officer to examine serious wildlife
crime, including illegal trade of the pricey delicacy. “[It] has
devastated the sturgeon population,” said a spokesman. “The trade is
worth hundreds of thousands of pounds, and the criminals involved are
often linked to international organized crime.” The officer must inspect
caviar for labeling that guarantees it doesn’t come from two endangered
types of sturgeon: the Baltic and the shortnose.