Sting Operation Leads to Arrest in Avocado Thefts

After a three-month undercover sting investigation called “Operation Green Gold,” authorities Tuesday arrested the owner of a produce packing business for allegedly buying hundreds of pounds of avocados from a police officer posing as a drug user turned fruit thief.

The arrest of Ariel Varela, 47, co-owner of Varela Bros. Packing in Fallbrook, represented an escalation in the fight against that most Californian of crimes: avocado theft.

California avocado farmers, who grow 95% of the nation’s crop, have long been plagued by theft, estimated by some agricultural officials at millions of dollars each year.

With 26,000 acres and a crop worth $150 million a year, San Diego County grows half of the state’s avocados, followed by Ventura, Santa Barbara and Riverside counties.

Though there have been other arrests and convictions for buying and selling stolen avocados, Green Gold represents the first time that an undercover sting, including videotaping, has been used. More such operations are possible, authorities said.

“I hope this will send a message of reassurance to our agricultural community: We take the issue of ‘undocumented’ fruit very seriously,” said Deputy Dist. Atty. Elisabeth Silva, head of the district attorney’s Agricultural Crime Project.

Authorities keyed on Varela Bros. after several drug-case defendants told of selling stolen avocados to the business as a way to finance their habits, Silva said. Varela bought more than 1,100 pounds of avocados during six transactions with the undercover agent, she said.

By law, a packing business must have documentation, including a bill of sale, showing where the avocados were grown.

After a final buy was allegedly made Tuesday morning, a task force of sheriff’s deputies, prosecutors and officials of the county agriculture commissioner’s office descended on the business.

Along with avocados, authorities seized 5,500 pounds of sweet limes and 1,600 pounds of lemons that did not have proper documentation, Silva said.

“This packinghouse has long been suspected by growers of, in effect, laundering stolen avocados by selling them to markets,” Silva said.

Varela was taken to county jail, awaiting arraignment Friday on six felony counts of receiving stolen property and several misdemeanor counts of possession of fruit without proper documentation.

Avocados, San Diego County’s second biggest crop after flowers, are particularly vulnerable to theft.

Avocados are often grown in isolated canyons, gullies and steep hillsides that are difficult to patrol. The fruit has a long harvest season, and it is relatively easy to “strip” low-hanging branches. Although prices have slumped this season, an individual avocado can often fetch more than $1 at grocery stores.

With increased competition from Mexico and Chile, San Diego County growers have become increasingly frustrated by thefts. Growers hired a private investigator to prowl their groves.

The Sheriff’s Department has used reserve deputies as “avo-cops” to ride motorbikes through groves. One grower hired a plane to provide overhead surveillance.

Authorities said Varela was videotaped while warning an undercover agent from the state Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement to “be careful” in stealing the fruit because growers are angry and avocado theft has become a “political crime.”