More than 10 tons of olives stolen and illegally sold to oil mills

Massive cases of olive theft are increasing across the country as prices for vegetable oil have risen sharply.

ΕΛΑΣ arrested three people in the Western Achaia region who stole more than 10 tons of olives and sold them to a processing plant. The defendants, during the period from 11/15/2023 to 11/16/2023, acting together with five more unknown accomplices, illegally collected and exported 10.5 tons of olives from land located in the Western region of Achaia and owned by two private individuals.

The defendants transported the stolen goods in a vehicle owned by one of the defendants to two creameries. There they sold 1,355 liters of olive oil made from stolen raw materials to the owners of an oil processing plant, receiving an illegal financial gain of 10,840 euros.

During investigations carried out by police from the Western Achaia Security Department in the olive mills, they discovered and confiscated a total of 652 liters of olive oil and 800 kg of olives, which were returned to their rightful owners, and the car of one of the accused was confiscated (as a means of committing a criminal act).

The detainees were brought to the prosecutor of first instance of Patras. The investigation continues to establish the possible involvement of those arrested in other criminal activities.

As the Athens News previously wrote, safety and integrity of olive groves, increased police presence and regular patrolling of green spaces, and even the installation of microchips in olive fruits or bags with the harvest, as is done in Spain, is proposed to be done in Greece. However, as they say, “things are still there.”

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