Forget guns and drugs, the avocado is the new king of the black market.
An unexpected increase in demand for avocados has created black market demand, and has caused a surge in crime and theft related to the sought after fruit. The avocado has seen a recent rise in popularity among New Zealand residents and has created a shortage in local markets.
With pries rising criminals have started to rob farms of this coveted commodity. Officials say there have been at least 40 late night avocado heists this year. The number may be much higher as many smaller heists may be unreported.
The Avocados are stolen from farms and distributed to roadside stalls and small restaurants around New Zealand. The high price of avocados, currently between 4-6NZD, and limited quantity seem to be driving the black market demand.
Residents are being cautioned against buying these avocados as they are likely to be unripe and to have been recently sprayed with pesticides. To combat this growing problem, farmers have begun to ramp up security and better protect their crop.