Civil Guard Dismantles Organized Avocado and Banana Theft Ring in Tenerife
The Spanish Civil Guard has placed seven individuals under investigation for a coordinated agricultural theft ring in northern Tenerife that saw nearly a ton of avocados and hundreds of kilos of bananas stolen from local farms.
Security in the Canary Islands' agricultural sector is back in the headlines following a recent Civil Guard operation in northern Tenerife. Seven people are under investigation for a string of farm thefts. The ROCA team, which specializes in rural crime, dismantled a group operating in Icod de los Vinos and La Matanza de Acentejo, recovering nearly a ton of avocados and 280 kilos of bananas.
The suspects—five men and two women aged 25 to 50—planned their crimes carefully. Living near the farms, they monitored the owners' routines and waited for them to leave before jumping fences to steal produce. The group operated with a clear division of labor, with some members handling the theft while others acted as lookouts or drivers.
Police also targeted the illegal supply chain. Officers in Icod de los Vinos stopped a vehicle carrying 280 kilos of stolen bananas; the driver was arrested and found to be driving without a license. Additionally, authorities inspected local businesses and discovered boxes of avocados with no record of their origin. These shops now face penalties for violating agri-food quality laws.
These thefts hurt farmers financially and pose a public health risk, as the stolen produce bypasses mandatory safety checks. Regulations are strict: selling food without proper labeling or documentation can lead to heavy fines, reaching up to three million euros in severe cases. Given that the suspects had prior records for similar crimes, this remains an ongoing issue that threatens the stability and profitability of Tenerife’s farming community.