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Millions of dollars in maple syrup stolen
Talk about sticky-fingered thieves. They've struck in Quebec, snatching millions of dollars worth of maple syrup from a warehouse in Saint-Louis-de-Blandford, between Montreal and Quebec City.
Up to 10 million pounds of syrup was in the warehouse, according to a statement from the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers, which bills itself as keeper of the global strategic maple syrup reserve.
Officials could not say exactly how much of the product was stolen, but a Quebec police official told The Globe and Mail it was a substantial quantity.
“We know that it’s millions of dollars that was stolen,” Sgt. Richard Gagné is quoted as saying. “It’s a very large amount.”
The 10 million pounds of syrup that was in the warehouse is worth more than $30 million, according to the federation statement.
The theft was discovered during a routine inventory check of the warehouse, which "had been secured by a fence and locks, and visited regularly," federation president Serge Beaulieu said in the statement.
The barrels that originally contained the syrup were empty, meaning it was somehow transferred to some other kind of containers to complete the theft, the federation said.
The warehouse where the theft occurred was being used to temporarily store the sweet stuff while a new facility was being prepared.
As much as 80% of the world's maple syrup comes from Quebec, the federation said.
Though the federation is insured for the loss, if the stolen syrup makes its way onto the market, it could hurt the group's 10,000 members.
"The marketing of the stolen maple syrup will affect the entire maple industry. It is crucial to identify those responsible for this crime," the statement said.
“Obviously those people stole the maple syrup to sell it somewhere,” federation director Anne-Marie Granger Godbout told The Globe and Mail. “If it’s a big volume, it could be very harmful for the maple syrup industry. The companies that are working in this industry will have to compete with some company that didn’t pay for the maple syrup.”
The federation said the theft shouldn't affect supplies available to the public.
"The sales agency's maple syrup inventory is spread across several storage locations which were not subject to theft," Beaulieu said in the statement.
The amount in the warehouse represents about one-10th of Quebec's 2012 harvest and more than 25% of the federation's stock, CNN affiliate CBC reported.
Will the price of maple syrup up?
It demanded a lot of trucks and labors to remove 10 million pounds of maple syrup.
Or someone sold a barrel and kept the money each month for years, and they have just now caught on.
I think Hogan's right. I don't know how many tankers it would take but it must be a LOT. Probably some warehouse worker getting his retirement money early.
"GLOBAL STRATEGIC MAPLE SYRUP RESERVE"
Really? 40 million pounds ?
Let the sweet / sticky puns flow.
I had no idea that this reserve even existed until today...sounds *really* important, doesn't it?
Pure maple syrup is a great weight loss assistance.....maybe it is headed to fat camp?
With lemon juice and cayenne pepper, you betcha.
@banasy
Exactly. Someone needs to question the possible accomplices Mr. Lemon and Senor Cayenne. Maybe even Col. Mustard too.
Kirsty Alley ?
Could be a genuine crisis if next the pancake mix factories are robbed.
or a concerted effort to destroy the "Waffle House" or "IHOP" franchises.....I suspect one of the other chains
The street price of illegal maple sryup will really sink when this huge supply hits the market.
The barrels were more likely emptied before ever getting to the warehouse. Sounds like an inside job, I'd certainly be questioning the dispatcher and the trucking companies.
Everyone knows the Mafia has a sweet tooth, and you can't make an authentic Italian apple pie without real maple syrup.
global strategic maple syrup reserve? It's not life or death, it's not a necessary staple that can sustain life.
A sticky situation.
Of all the things to steal. How would you unload this merchandise? "Uh, hi, I'm wonder if you would like to buy 10 million pounds of syrup, uh, quietly?"
you liquidate it out of car trunks at the corner, a bottle at a time. The illegal fructose and sugar market is massive, yet under reported by the media. As school lunches have gotten healthier, little Jonny is reduced to sneaking in his room eating sugar products.
"Global Strategic Maple Syrup Reserve" ...dear God.
You've got be kidding... it'll be extremely easy to find the culprit. Just take a rubber hose to the knees of whoever fulfills any grocery store chain's order for 2013's supply of maple syrup. Just watch though – the FBI will be too busy following the orders of the RIAA and MPAA to do anythig about it.
How do you carry away 5,000 tons of maple syrup?
The Sticky Bandits Strike Again !
"Well if Mom didn't make such dry waffles, there I said it"
Lol...Mom's maaaaaad!
Don't laugh, maple syrup is serious business in Canada.
We're all aboot maply syrup.
HA ha! Sorry, couldn't help it.