Police: 5 suspected of stealing 9.5 tons of garlic

[June 27, 2012]  VIENNA (AP) -- Austrian police did not need sniffing dogs to locate this suspected heist -- 9.5 tons of garlic.

The Austria Press Agency says police stopped three overloaded and sagging vans about to cross into Hungary from Austria on Wednesday and found them packed to the roof with the pungent cargo. After questioning the five men in the vehicles they charged them on suspicion of receiving stolen goods.

Police say the garlic apparently came from Spain and estimate its value at euro30,000 ($37,500). The men -- all Romanian nationals -- were not named, in line with Austrian privacy laws.

APA cites one officer as saying it was clear what the vans were carrying even before their doors were opened.

"All three vehicles really stunk like garlic," he says.

[Associated Press]

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