The Civil Guard said in a statement that it had arrested 16 people and investigated 5 others for the "theft of more than 17.5 tons of olives in the canton of Las Vegas", southeast of Madrid.
Prosecuted for theft and fraud, the suspects range in age from 20 to 57.
The olive, dubbed "green gold" in the country, is one of the main agricultural riches of Spain, which is the world's leading oil producer.
The investigation by Spanish authorities began in January after a complaint by a farmer who said he had 8.4 tons of olives stolen, echoing other thefts of "significant quantities" of olives in the same area, the Civil Guard detailed.
After arresting five people carrying 140 kg of olives in their vehicle in broad daylight, without being able to provide evidence as to their origin, the Civil Guard searched two presses in the regions of Toledo and Guadalajara (center) and arrested their owners.
They found documents relating to the exchange of these 17.5 tons of olives and barrels containing more than 6,000 liters of oil.
© 2023 AFP