The Guardia Civil in the Region of Murcia has initiated an investigation dubbed ‘Hot Lemon’ targeting three entrepreneurs in the horticultural sector. They are being investigated for alleged fraud, document forgery, and violations against consumer market regulations. This investigation stemmed from concerns raised by the Council of Ecological Agriculture of the Region of Murcia.

Authorities discovered irregular practices involving the unlawful mixing of organic and conventional citrus fruits. Investigators determined that these activities occurred outside authorised locations for food handling, with fruit being transferred between trucks at strategic stops on their routes before arriving at their final destinations.

The fraudulent operation aimed to profit from selling conventional products at inflated organic prices. For example, while conventional lemons were selling for around six cents per kilogram, organic lemons were fetching twenty-five cents per kilogram, a staggering markup alleging an increase of four hundred and seventeen percent.

As a result of these findings, a company that procured the mixed products has been severely impacted, forced to halt the export of over four hundred tonnes of beverages made from this adulterated citrus, all labelled incorrectly as organic. The investigation continues as more details emerge about the scale of this fraudulent scheme.