The Civil Guard launched Operation Mahala to combat the counterfeiting, sale,
labelling, trade, illegal distribution or adulteration of food products and economic
fraud. Officers have investigated and charged a person in charge of a company and
denounced another for a crime of food fraud related to more than 34,000 kilos of food
unfit for human consumption.
Earlier this year the Alicante Nature Protection Patrol (PACPRONA) obtained
information about possible irregularities by two commercial companies located in two
industrial buildings in Torrevieja. The warehouses were believed to contain expired
food products, which were distributed between Spain and Portugal.
Once all the establishments were located and the existence of illegal activities verified,
officers raided the premises. Officers found foods with manipulated best-before dates,
expired foods and others in a poor state of preservation, all of them ready for sale and
distribution.
The owner and manager of the company along with all the evidence proving the
crimes have been passed to the relevant bodies. In addition, complaints have been
made against the investigated companies for administrative infractions, and have been
sent to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and Water of the Generalitat
Valenciana.
The proceedings have been made available to the Investigating Court No. 4 of
Torrevieja. Likewise, all the food removed has been destroyed by an authorised waste
manager.
Thanks to these actions, the Civil Guard has withdrawn from the market more than
34,000 kilos of food, between Torrevieja and other towns, unfit for consumption. They
did not meet the conditions for human consumption and could have created public
health problems.