It would appear that there is sufficient demand for black market olives to attract mafia-style organisations to move in.
In Fuente de Piedra, Córdoba province, the Guardia Civil have arrested nine ethnic Rumanians, all part of an extended family, in connection with the theft of large quantities of olives in the provinces of Málaga, Jaén, Córdoba, Granada and Sevilla. They are believed to be involved in at least 17 thefts of olives as well as the theft of at least 18 motor vehicles.
One of the thefts took place in Cuevas de San Marcos, where they got away with 20,000 kilos of olives. The Guardia Civil investigation led to the discovery of the gang’s modus operandi and they were put under surveillance.
The gang were very well organised and had an excellent knowledge of the geography of the region which allowed them to use a variety of small, rural roads to avoid detection. The thefts were always at night and were carried out every two or three days. The stolen olives would then either be delivered to their ‘buyers’, either for immediate sale the following morning or for temporary storage. The gang have so far refused to name the ‘buyers’ through fear of reprisals.
The olives would be sold on the black market for much less than the €0.40 per kilo demanded by local farmers.
This particular gang are thought to be responsible for the theft of around 170,000 kilos of olives in the region, 90,000 kilos of which have been recovered and returned to their rightful owners.
Also seized by the police in the raid on the house in Fuente de Piedra were two vehicles, a television, a laptop, a video camera, €4,025 in cash, a stereo and, naturally, 26 mobile phones, most of which were stolen items.