Spanish police have arrested or investigated 129 individuals in the Sevilla region alone for crimes related to olive harvesting. This follows the apprehension of six people caught illegally harvesting olives in the Albaida del Aljarafe village in southern Andalusia.
The Guardian and Euronews reported on Wednesday that illegal harvesting often occurs during the olive harvest season in Spain. They added that “officers from Spain’s Guardia Civil force prevented 465 kilograms (1025 pounds) of olives from being stolen near Albaida del Aljarafe.”
Olives from this region, known as Verdeo, are highly prized, making them a target for both opportunistic thieves and organized criminal gangs. Spanish police and local community watch groups work diligently to protect these valuable olives.
The police stated, “In the Sevilla region alone, 129 people have been arrested or investigated for crimes related to olive harvesting, including theft, fraud, and possession of false documents.” Last year, 48 people were arrested, and 371 were investigated for similar crimes.
According to the local daily Guardia Civil, the police have recovered 213,489 kilograms of illegally harvested olives and 100 falsely labeled bottles of olive oil, each containing five liters.
Olive theft isn’t just a problem in Spain. Italy, another major growing region, also faces issues with olive thieves.
Spanish and Italian police collaborated in an investigation that uncovered an international organization selling cheap olive oil at inflated prices. The investigation resulted in the arrest of 11 individuals and the seizure of over 5,000 liters of olive oil.
The Guardian explained that the rampant olive theft and illegal activities are due to drought, compounded by heatwaves and bad weather, which have reduced olive harvests compared to previous years.
Spain, which accounts for half of the world’s olive oil production, has seen a surge in olive oil prices due to poor harvests. The Guardian reported, “In Spain, prices have nearly tripled in the past four years,” noting that “Shoppers who paid less than €5 (approximately $5.5) for a liter of high-quality extra virgin oil four years ago have seen prices climb as high as €14 (approximately $15.5).”
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