Police in Spain and Italy have successfully dismantled an international criminal network involved in the production and distribution of adulterated olive oil. The joint operation conducted by the Guardia Civil, Italy's carabinieri, and Europol has resulted in the arrest of 11 individuals and the seizure of more than 5,000 liters of counterfeit olive oil.

The investigation was sparked when Guardia Civil officers discovered irregularities during an inspection of a truck transporting olive oil in Spain's Ciudad Real region. Further probe revealed a sophisticated operation spanning both Spain and Italy, aimed at deceiving consumers by passing off cheaper oils as higher-quality and more expensive varieties.

In Spain, the criminals utilized a company that engaged in the acquisition of lower-quality oils. They manipulated cloudy and poor-quality oils, transforming them into virgin and extra virgin olive oils and falsifying documents to market them as such. By mixing substandard oils with higher-quality ones, the fraudsters managed to achieve the correct levels of fats and substances required for the sale of authentic olive oil while evading detection by not registering their companies' oils.

Parallel investigations carried out by the carabinieri in Italy exposed similar fraudulent practices involving two prominent oil-processing companies within the country.

As a result of the simultaneous searches conducted in both Spain and Italy, authorities apprehended 11 individuals and confiscated more than 5,200 liters of the adulterated olive oil. Additionally, €91,000 (£78,000) in cash, four high-end vehicles, and several bank accounts linked to the criminal network were seized.

Europol, in a statement, underscored the prevalence of olive oil counterfeiting, citing factors such as rising prices, reduced production, and increased demand as contributing to the growth of fraudulent activity in the industry. The mixing of consumer-grade olive oil with lower-quality alternatives enabled the criminals to offer competitive prices while infiltrating legal supply chains. This illicit practice not only poses public health risks but also undermines consumer trust, potentially leading to broader economic consequences.

The crackdown on the counterfeit olive oil trade comes amidst challenges faced by the European olive oil industry due to adverse weather conditions that have affected harvests for two consecutive years. Global olive oil production is anticipated to decline to 2.4 million tonnes, falling short of the estimated demand of approximately 3 million tonnes. Spain, which is responsible for half of the world's olive oil production, has suffered from drought and heatwaves, resulting in a projected production of 765,000 tonnes this year, significantly lower than previous years.

This incident follows a similar case in May 2021, where 17 individuals were arrested in Spain for selling illegally imported saffron from Iran as the protected and highly valued Spanish variety from La Mancha. The continuous targeting of precious culinary staples highlights the need for increased vigilance and stringent measures to combat such criminal activities.

As investigations continue, authorities are determined to safeguard the integrity of the olive oil industry and protect consumers from fraudulent practices. The crackdown serves as a warning to criminals seeking to exploit the growing demand for premium olive oil, emphasizing the importance of transparency and traceability within the food industry.