Spanish olive oil sector outraged by Dropped ‘Operation Lucerna’ case

Lamentable, incomprehensible, unbelievable, an outrage. Those were among the reactions from members of Spain’s olive oil sector to news that criminal charges will not proceed against 14 people originally alleged to have been part of a scam in which blends of cheaper oils – such as palm and avocado oil – were to be passed off as olive oil. Back in February, Spanish police announced they had arrested 19 people in the case, which also allegedly involved a complex network of 30 companies and ‘straw men’ from Spain, Italy and Portugal, and at least €3 million ($3.9 million) in sales tax evasion.