Arrested in Murcia for swindling in the sale of oranges

The Guardia Civil has arrested a man and a woman in Beniel (Murcia, Spain) for their involvement in an alleged scam related to the sale of oranges. This action is part of Operation Moño 24, which was launched following a complaint from a farmer in the Arneva district of Orihuela, who was the victim of a scam in April.

 

The investigation, carried out by the Team against theft in the countryside (Roca) of the Guardia Civil of Torrevieja, revealed that the detainees signed a contract for the purchase and sale of 18,720 kilograms of oranges, committing themselves to a payment of 5,054 euros by bank transfer, a payment that was never made. Subsequently, the goods were sold to a third party in good faith.

 

The detainees, businessmen in the agricultural sector, used a company of apparent solvency to gain the confidence of the farmers. The woman, the leader of the operation, negotiated prices and managed the harvesting and sale of the fruit without paying the producer. This type of scam is based on acquiring products that can be sold quickly, such as fruit and vegetables, in order to sell them quickly at a lower price and obtain immediate cash.

During Operation Moño 24, inspections were carried out in farms and businesses in Orihuela and Beniel, which allowed the suspects, known for similar acts, to be located and arrested. After their arrest, they were released with charges and were placed at the disposal of the Orihuela Magistrates' Court.

 

The Guardia Civil, through its Roca Teams, continues to work on the prevention of these crimes, offering informative talks to farmers on how to improve security on their farms and avoid being victims of scams.