In a recent joint operation led by the Guardia Civil, a significant food fraud scheme has been exposed in La Rioja, Spain.
The investigation, initiated in late August 2023, targeted four individuals associated with a La Rioja-based company engaged in illicit activities related to the production and distribution of canned tuna and oil.
Collaborating with Europol and the Italian Carabinieri, the Guardia Civil seized a substantial quantity of fraudulent goods – 120,000 cans of tuna and 45,000 liters of oil. These products, intended for markets in Spain and Italy, were specifically timed to coincide with the Christmas holiday rush.
During the search of the company’s facilities, authorities uncovered a concealed area lacking basic hygiene standards. Within this hidden space, returned tuna jars were discovered immersed in hot water containers, undergoing preparation for re-labeling and reintroduction into the market.
This illicit process involved the manipulation of expiry dates and health registration details, presenting significant threats to public health and consumer safety.
Further violations of Spanish food laws came to light at another location. A direct sales store was found to be selling canned tuna exclusively labeled in Italian, in direct contradiction to Spanish regulations mandating bilingual labeling.
Ongoing investigations indicate that this criminal network has been operational for an extended period. It is alleged that the perpetrators utilized low-quality, inexpensive raw materials, deceptively labeling them as higher quality, thereby inflating their profits at the expense of consumers and law-abiding competitors.
