Two men accused of stealing 500 kilos of bananas and avocados
The Guardia Civil are investigating two men, aged 45 and 55, for allegedly stealing large quantities of bananas and avocados from farms in Icod de los Vinos and El Sauzal in Tenerife. According to the investigation, the pair are suspected of taking 300 kilos of bananas and a further 200 kilos of avocados.
Both men are reported to live locally and were familiar with the access points and times when they could enter the properties without being noticed.
Investigators believe they carried out the thefts in daylight, scaling perimeter fences to reach the crops. In the case of the bananas, one of the men allegedly used a family-sized vehicle to transport the stolen fruit. The avocados, meanwhile, were still small and unripe at the time they were taken.
The Guardia Civil’s ROCA team, which specialises in protecting agricultural and livestock farms, led the investigation. They were supported by officers from El Sauzal’s Local Police and the research unit of the Tacoronte station.
The case files have now been passed to the Courts of Instruction in La Laguna and Icod de los Vinos, where the men will face further proceedings.
If found guilty, the men could face prison sentences of up to five years, as Spanish law treats farm theft carried out with forced entry as a serious offence. They may also be ordered to pay fines and compensate the affected farmers for the stolen produce.
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