Oil prices have surged to levels comparable with gold, and a fraud investigation is unfolding around a group accused of manipulating olive oil purchases. Authorities say the case centers on a scam that saw some farmers and traders duped into small transactions that culminated in larger, unpaid orders. The scheme reportedly relied on misrepresentations of solvency and the use of false identities, with perpetrators even presenting the identities of deceased individuals to complicate investigations. Investigators are examining whether the suspects participated in other frauds across Spain as they piece together the network behind the operation named Gold Oil.
In statements from the Civil Guard, authorities described Operation Golden Oil as a coordinated effort addressing fraud, document forgery, and organized crime. Three suspects, residents of the Madrid area, were brought into custody. Court proceedings have been initiated by the Instruction Court No. 2 of Villena, and the detainees, comprising one man and two women aged 34 to 69, were made available for questioning. The operation underscores how local investigators coordinated with regional police to pursue suspects across jurisdictions. [Source: Civil Guard]
The investigation began last May after a complaint filed by the head of an agricultural business in Sax regarding suspected fraud exceeding 24,000 euros in olive oil purchases. That complaint propelled authorities to launch a broader inquiry and eventually to initiate the operation designed to uncover the full scope of the scheme. The aim was to determine whether multiple transactions and partners were involved and to identify the exact pattern of deception used to secure goods without payment. [Source: Civil Guard]
How it works
The deception, widely referred to as the Nazarene scam, relied on building trust with legitimate business owners. Perpetrators would initiate a modest order, cultivating a sense of reliability. Once the business relationship was established, they executed a final, high-value purchase that the victim would not receive payment for. The pattern combined social engineering with logistical manipulation, making it difficult for suppliers to halt shipments or claim unpaid invoices once goods were dispatched. This two-step approach amplified the perceived credibility of the buyers and kept the focus on the business relationship rather than on red flags in the early stages. [Source: Civil Guard]
The first stage of the investigation, conducted by the ROCA team of agents responsible for rural security, involved a thorough analysis of documents supplied by the complainant. An official from the Ibi Civil Guard Company led the review, with investigators noting the authors attempted to obscure their identity. To avoid identification, suspects used forged identities and even referenced the identities of deceased individuals, complicating the verification process. The diligence of the analysis helped expose inconsistencies across the paperwork and pointed to a broader pattern of fraudulent behavior. [Source: Civil Guard]
Given the geographic spread of the alleged buyers, with some companies located in the Community of Madrid and others in Salamanca, authorities coordinated with the Madrid Local Police and the Regional Unit of the Judicial Police, along with the Guadalajara ROCA Team, to bolster verification efforts. The collaborative effort was essential to tracing the routes of shipments, confirming which entities were involved, and linking the various participants to the same fraudulent scheme. [Source: Civil Guard]
Through joint work, investigators identified the criminal network as consisting of four individuals, including a 69-year-old man and three women aged 34 to 44. Those living in Madrid were located and subjected to further inquiry, enabling prosecutors to build a stronger case for charges related to fraud, forgery, and criminal organization. The Civil Guard emphasized that the Madrid-based participants were central to the operation and were targeted for immediate action. [Source: Civil Guard]
An initial round of investigations led to additional scrutiny of other cases that shared similar fraud patterns. Prosecutors were informed of five fraud-related cases, three forgery incidents, and one case involving a criminal organization. These cases were forwarded to the Second Education Court of Villena for further action, highlighting the scale of the investigation and the ongoing need to safeguard the interests of farmers and legitimate olive oil suppliers. [Source: Civil Guard]
Despite these developments, authorities cautioned that the door remains open to new victims and that the search would continue. The operation was not terminated, with continued oversight to monitor potential follow-up offenses and to ensure all involved parties are brought to account. The enduring commitment by the Civil Guard reflects a broader initiative to protect agricultural markets and maintain trust in supply chains. [Source: Civil Guard]