Russian police confiscated 16 tons of untaxed red caviar during a raid on a wholesale market in Moscow on Tuesday, Interfax news agency reported.
The caviar, which had spoilt, would have had a market value of 400,000 euros (577,134 dollars). The glass jars of fish eggs stood out to inspectors because they lacked proper labels and tax seals, DPA reported.
In contrast to illegal black caviar from the sturgeon fish, red salmon caviar is typically legal, albeit less exclusive. Illegal trade is considered to be a lucrative business for Russian gangs.