# European olive oil fraud investigations

> Developing situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/european-olive-oil-fraud-investigations
> Updated: 2026-10-28T14:53:24.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2.

Authorities in Italy and Spain have taken significant actions against fraudulent olive oil operations. 

In Italy, the Guardia di Finanza of Siena confiscated 82,000 euros from an olive oil company in Colle di Val d’Elsa. This action followed irrevocable sentences from the Court of Appeal of Florence regarding a 2012 investigation into the fraudulent marketing of oil falsely declared as extra virgin. 

In Spain, the Civil Guard dismantled a criminal organization through Operation Oretania. The network, involving twelve individuals across several provinces, allegedly marketed inferior quality oil as organic extra virgin olive oil by falsifying documents and using shell companies to misrepresent products as organic imports. This operation involved an estimated seven million kilograms of oil and illicit profits exceeding four million euros. Authorities seized over one million kilograms of oil during searches of factories and other locations.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-28: Spanish authorities dismantle organic olive oil fraud network

Spanish authorities arrested 12 people in Operation Oretania for a scheme that sold inferior oil as organic extra virgin olive oil, involving over 7 million kilograms of product.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/spanish-authorities-dismantle-organic-olive-oil-fraud-network

### 2026-10-22: Siena authorities confiscate 82,000 euros from olive oil company

Italian authorities confiscated 82,000 euros from an olive oil company in Siena following convictions for fraudulently labeling oil as extra virgin.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/siena-authorities-confiscate-82000-euros-from-olive-oil-company

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Cite as: European olive oil fraud investigations. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/european-olive-oil-fraud-investigations