Three men have been charged with stealing $1.3 million (€1.27 million) worth of seafood from supplier Netuno USA, the Miami Herald reported.

Rene Hechevarria Echemend, 33, Ernesto Aguilera Baute, 36, and Jose Luis Batista Suarez, 40, face seven charges of grand theft cargo of more than $50,000 (€49,074).

The trio were also indicted on seven counts of obtaining property worth more than $5,000 (€4,907), the report said citing Broward County court records.

Arrests came after Netuno officials became suspicious of a man called Brian Gomez, who they discovered did not work as a buyer for an unnamed supermarket as he had told them.

Law officers swooped on Aug. 4 making arrests after carrying out a surveillance operation.

IntraFish requests for comment fromNetuno executives were not returned.

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