Italian Police Bust Crime Gang Behind Cheese and Wine Thefts

Police in Modena, Italy, on March 20 arrested 10 members of a crime gang dedicated to the theft of wine and cheese.

Police said the gang had stolen some 16,000 bottles of fine wine and 168 wheels of Parmesan cheese in robberies dating back to 2015. ANSA said the stolen goods were worth €180,000.

The arrests came as part of Operation Wine and Cheese, which ANSA said was launched in cooperation with a local prosecutor. ANSA quoted Coldiretti, an Italian agricultural organization, as saying €10 million worth of Parmesan had been stolen in the past three years in Italy.

Police released CCTV footage of the gang stealing Parmesan. Credit: YouTube/poliziadistato via Storyful