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Showing posts with the label ham black market

Thieves Target Premium Iberian Ham, Triggering Industry-Wide Concern

The province of Huelva, known for producing some of Spain’s most treasured Iberian hams, is facing a worrying situation. Over the past weeks, a sudden rise in robberies has put the entire industry on edge. What usually happens later in the year has arrived far too early, and producers are openly anxious about what might come next. A Crime Wave That Started Ahead of Schedule Local business owners say the thieves have jumped ahead of the season, striking factories and ham-curing warehouses almost two months earlier than usual. Typically, these thefts occur around December, when demand for premium ham peaks, but this time the attacks began in early autumn. According to the Asociación de la Industria de la Carne de Huelva, losses already exceed hundreds of thousands of euros, and that might only be the visible part. Many robberies never even get reported, either out of fear or frustration. Fast, Planned and Damaging Most recent thefts share a similar pattern. Criminals crash stolen vehicl...