About 397 liters of illegally imported Moroccan olive oil in containers labeled as containing toxic and corrosive substances was found in a van headed for Barcelona last week, according to Spanish police.
The Guardia Civil said that the oil, which appeared not to have been declared to Spanish Customs, was discovered on January 28 during border patrol vehicle inspections near a toll station on the AP‑7 highway in Martorell, about 20 miles inland from Barcelona.
Upon inspecting the van they found various plastic containers of 5 – 20 liter capacity, “all carrying labels indicating they contained toxic and corrosive substances,” but which the agents found actually contained olive oil, a Guardia Civil media release said.
“The oil was stored in recycled containers unfit for contents which, according to the transporter, were destined for human consumption,” it said.
A Guardia Civil spokesman told Olive Oil Times it was the first such case he was aware of in Barcelona, “at least in terms of such quantities of olive oil.” He said he could not say the type of olive oil involved but it had been confiscated and the matter referred to the Spanish Customs branch in Barcelona for investigation as an alleged contraband infraction.
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