A company based in Alicante is facing serious legal scrutiny after being accused of fraudulently selling nearly two thousand tonnes of bananas as Plátano de Canarias, which has Protected Designation of Origin status. The Civil Guard launched an investigation following a complaint from the Association of Producers of Plátano de Canarias, highlighting that the company was trading bananas without the necessary authorisation, which had been previously suspended due to irregularities.

Investigators inspected the company’s storage and ripening facilities and discovered that they had sold bananas from Madeira under the false pretence that they were from the Canary Islands. Evidence suggests that the business falsified documents and invoices, attempting to conceal their illegal activities from both the certifying body and regulatory authorities.

The allegations have prompted inquiries into potential violations of European regulations related to geographical indications for agricultural products. Sanctions for such infringements could range significantly, with fines potentially reaching up to three million euros.

This operation has been conducted by the Civil Guard’s Seprona unit in Alicante, in collaboration with the quality control service of the Valencian Government and with data sharing facilitated through Europol. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities seek to address these fraudulent practices and protect consumers.