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Spain: in Andalusia, olive oil producers targeted by organized thefts
Spain: in Andalusia, olive oil producers targeted by organized thefts – (France 2)
Olive oil producers are increasingly victims of organized theft, due to the drought which has caused olive production to fall. Report from Andalusia.
For some time now, the Spanish have had a lighter hand on olive oil, which has become almost a luxury product. “We had 1 and 1.5 liter bottles. Today, we use pods because sometimes people left with bottles”, says the manager of a restaurant. The Spanish are experiencing a national drama. Due to a drought that caused olive production to fall, the price of oil has more than doubled compared to last year, to 8 euros per liter.
Olives targeted by theft
In supermarkets, padlocks and chains have been put on the bottles. The criminals are attacking olive oil. A record flight took place in August: 56 tonnes of oil siphoned in 45 minutes. Some farmers have decided to organize patrols themselves. In Andalusia, all were affected by thefts. “Producers are desperately waiting for rain for the next harvests, the only way to reduce the prices and the attractiveness of this green gold in the eyes of thieves, who are organized into a network of traffickers”concludes Alexandra Lay, special correspondent in Cordoba.
