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Fourteen people have been arrested in Spain after the Spanish and French police, with the help of Europol, dismantled an organized criminal group involved in the production and sale of pistachios that did not meet the required ecological standards.
The operation started in 2019 after reports of the misuse of organic certifications on pistachios that did not meet established agricultural standards.
Spanish police had detected pesticides such as glyphosate and chlorate, which are illegal in Spain, in organic and non-organic pistachios.
The investigation found that illegal pesticides were being used to improve the quality and quantity of crops and increase the monetary value of production.
So-called organic nuts sold for up to 80% of the retail price of non-organic pistachios.
The nuts from the main Spanish distributor were also sold in France with false ecological certifications.
The detainees were charged with fraud against public health, money laundering, falsification of documents and crimes related to the market and consumers.
It is estimated that these people made a profit of 6 million euros.
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