Quebec provincial police believe they have arrested three
sticky-fingered thieves as a result of their investigations into the heist of
9.600 barrels of maple syrup valued at $18 million from a warehouse at
Saint-Louis-de-Blandford, about 95 kilometres southwest of Quebec City.
They are looking for another five people.
When the theft was discovered in July, Simon Trépanier of the Federation of Quebec
Maple Syrup Producers thought about $30 million worth had been taken. Later
they noticed that not as many barrels were missing as they originally thought.
The arrests
came after search warrants were exercised in Quebec, New Brunswick, Ontario and
the United States.
Police say
they have seized about two-thirds of the stolen maple syrup, electronic scales,
elevator platforms and kettles.
The seizures
began in Kedgwick, New Brunswich, in October where about 1,000 barrels were
retrieved from S.K. Export Inc. The owner says that syrup came from his regular
producers in Quebec. They object to marketing through the Quebec association.
