On a mission Ham scam

manas (Sevilla).

Officers were alerted to the fact that certain hams were appearing which seemed to carry counterfeit labelling.

To make normal, low quality hams have the appearance of the highly priced Pata Negra version, those involved were first washed with pressure water or burned so that the fat would emerge.

Then a mixture of seed oil and charcoal was applied to them to improve their appearance and if the whole leg wasn’t up to visual standards, then they would slice it and sell the ham in packets.

With the ‘good looking’ hams, false documentation was supplied which persuaded innocent buyers to take delivery of the fake hams and the scam is believed to have netted millions before it was finally closed down.