OSAKA--The Hyogo and Tokushima prefectural police are to soon search several locations in connection with the mislabeling of grilled Chinese eels by Osaka-based trader Uohide, it was learned Monday.

The police set up a joint investigation headquarters the same day.

Suspecting that Uohide and Kobe-based seafood wholesaler Shinko Gyorui Ltd., an affiliate of Maruha Nichiro Holdings Inc., as well as several others were involved in the mislabeling, the police will search related locations over an alleged violation of the Unfair Competition Prevention Law by the end of this week at the earliest.

The police learned an executive of a seafood processing firm in Nankoku, Kochi Prefecture, had ordered a broker in Takamatsu to label grilled Chinese eels as domestic after Uohide approached him to discuss the mislabeling.

The executive has reportedly admitted to the allegations to Tokushima prefectural police under voluntary questioning.

According to a...

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