Cheese Heists Surge as Organised Crime Eyes Luxury Dairy Market: How Black Market Cheese Is Big Business
Cheese Heists Surge as Organised Crime Eyes: Cheese theft is becoming a global phenomenon, with organised crime increasingly targeting premium dairy products for their high market value. In a recent case, thieves made off with 22 tonnes of luxury British cheese in the UK, valued at over £300,000 (around Rs 3.26 crore), after placing a fraudulent order in the name of a French supermarket chain. This incident, humorously dubbed “the grate cheese robbery,” highlights the growing appeal of cheese for criminals, who see it as a lucrative alternative to other high-risk commodities.
The haul, stolen from Somerset farms and including rare cheddar varieties like the prized Hafod, stunned Patrick Holden, the dairy farmer behind the coveted cheese. What appeared to be a milestone order from Europe turned into a costly scam when the courier disappeared with the cheese. The incident has rattled the UK dairy industry, where high-end cheese theft is increasingly common.
Organised Crime and Rising Food-Related Heists
Luxury food products, especially cheeses, have seen a steady rise in theft. Food-related crimes are costing the global food industry billions each year, with Parmigiano Reggiano and specialty cheddars among the most common targets. As cheese prices soar, largely driven by inflation and the economic repercussions of events like the war in Ukraine, organised criminals are finding creative ways to exploit the market.
Patrick McGuigan, a dairy industry expert, notes that cheesemaking’s energy-intensive process and rising costs have turned cheese into a “desirable target” for criminals. In the UK, cheese prices have increased by up to 6.5% in 2024 alone, making cheese one of the most attractive food items for theft.
Why Cheese Crime Pays: Lower Convictions, Big Profits
Experts like Andy Quinn of the National Food Crime Unit (NFCU) explain that cheese theft is seen as less risky than drug trafficking but can yield similar profits. “They know crimes involving food result in less severe convictions than for importing drugs,” Quinn said, pointing out that cheese’s rising prices make it a prime target for black-market sales. From smuggling to counterfeiting, dairy-related crimes are becoming a major focus for law enforcement worldwide.
Tackling Cheese Crime: Tracking Technology and Global Efforts
In Italy, Parmigiano Reggiano is a frequent target, leading the Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium to embed tiny tracking chips in cheese rinds to verify authenticity. These grain-sized microchips, which contain digital IDs, allow buyers to scan the cheese and check for theft, a high-tech solution aimed at combating the black-market cheese trade. This black market extends beyond cheese-loving countries, as luxury dairy products are reportedly transported illegally into countries like Russia, according to Professor Chris Elliott, founder of the Global Institute for Food Security.
A Rising Trend in Global Cheese Heists
The UK’s October heist is not isolated. In 2016, £80,000 worth of Parmigiano Reggiano was stolen in Italy. The international demand for high-quality cheese, combined with lower conviction risks, continues to fuel the appeal for organised crime. With dairy industry stakeholders implementing new technology to secure their products, the evolving cat-and-mouse game between cheese makers and criminals signals that cheese theft may become an increasingly challenging crime to curb in the global food industry.
