$2.5 Million Worth of Premium Olive Oil Stolen in Houston Heist
Oily Organized Crime — Warehouse Theft Shocks Olive Oil Company
In what may be Houston’s slickest heist yet, $2.5 million worth of award-winning premium olive oil has vanished from a local warehouse.
CHO America, a Houston-based olive oil company, is grappling with the oily aftermath of this massive theft.
With thousands of bottles stolen, the question remains—how does one even begin to move that much olive oil?
Are they going to re-label it and sneak it onto shelves, or maybe sell it by the gallon out of the back of a truck?
Are the Thieves Stocking Up for a Port Strike Shortage?
Are the thieves preparing for the ongoing Houston port strike by hoarding olive oil like it’s the new liquid gold? Either that, or they’ve got one heck of a Mediterranean diet to keep up with. Olive oil prices have been soaring in recent years.
CHO America’s owner, Wajih Rekik, remains baffled by the situation. “It’s not like someone’s planning to bathe in olive oil,” Rekik quipped, adding that this haul is enough to fill a double-stacked warehouse.
Olive Oil Trail: Recovered Pallets and Suspicious Sales
So far, the Houston Police Department (HPD) has managed to recover four pallets of the stolen goods. That’s right—just four pallets out of 300. “It was a tip from someone who noticed the olive oil at a store that shouldn’t be selling it,” Rekik explained. “We matched the lot numbers and got HPD involved to recover what we could.”
However, with the majority of the olive oil still missing, Rekik is asking store owners to be on the lookout.
The company is urging everyone to report any shady sales of Terra Delyssa olive oil, especially at suspiciously low prices.
Watch out for the following lot codes at low prices:
- Lot # : L1185/40695
- Lot # : L1144/40752 Expiry Date : 29/01/2026
- Lot # : L1152/40753 Expiry Date : 26/02/2026
- Lot # : L1152/40754 Expiry Date : 26/02/2026
- Lot # : L1152/40758 Expiry Date : 26/02/2026
- Lot # : L1149/42545 Expiry Date : 16/02/2026
- Lot # : L1163/42584 Expiry Date : 29/03/2026
- Lot # : L1178/42591 Expiry Date : 29/03/2026
- Lot # : L1185/40695 Expiry Date : 05/02/2026
- Lot # :L1187/40787 Expiry Date : 06/05/2026
- Lot # : L1131/42520 Expiry Date : 03/01/2026
Will Houstonians Help Solve Olive Oil Heist?
The good news is, that if you find any of this rare stock in the wrong place, you can help solve a crime. CHO America is working overtime to replace the stolen product, while HPD’s Property and Financial Crimes unit continues to investigate.
Who knew that bottles of olive oil could be so valuable? With prices ranging from $15 to $25 a bottle and a worldwide increase in olive oil costs, you might want to start locking up your pantry!
In the meantime, if you come across a suspiciously good deal on olive oil, it might be worth checking the label. As Rekik says, “If it looks too good to be true, it probably was stolen!”
1st reported by Fox 26
