FIVE people have been arrested on suspicion of stealing tonnes of oranges and lemons from several citrus plantations.
Guardia Civil was alerted of a suspected oranges robbery from a plantation known as ‘La Atalaya’ in Huercal Overa municipality in May.
Guardia Civil and Local Police agents later found two 39-year-olds allegedly “stealing oranges” in the area.
Officers seized sacks of oranges weighing 1,960 kilograms and arrested the two Roquetas de Mar residents known only as M.R and R.D.M.
In a second case, the Guardia Civil claims to have spotted another “clearly overloaded” van on the A-7 dual carriageway a few days after the first arrests.
They signalled for the driver to pull over and allegedly found a “large quantity” of lemons inside.
When questioned, the trio – who failed to produce identification – gave “different and contradictory” accounts of the fruit’s source, according to the investigation.
The suspects, two aged 22 and the third 32, were arrested and 1.580 kilograms of lemons were seized.
A Guardia Civil investigation found the fruit may have come from plantations in Huerca Overa, Almeria and Santa Pola, Alicante.
Suspects are awaiting trial.
