It's the cheese

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From the tales of Baron von Munchhausen



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$390,000 Cheddar Theft: Six Arrested in London Artisanal Cheese Fraud
Six people have been arrested after a sophisticated scam last October tricked Neal’s Yard Dairy into handing over more than 24 tons of high-end cheddar, valued at around $390,000.
By Taylor Leach
Updated August 18, 2025 01:41 PM

Operation Got Milk
(Canva)
Last October, Neal’s Yard Dairy, one of Britain’s top artisanal cheese suppliers, fell victim to a sophisticated scam in which more than 24 tons of high-end cheddar cheese wheels were stolen. Authorities have now arrested six men in connection with the case.
In 2024, the London-based company delivered 950 wheels of cloth-bound cheddar believing the order came from a legitimate wholesale distributor for a major French retailer. In reality, the company had been tricked by fraudsters posing as genuine buyers. The scam was discovered only after payment failed to arrive and the cheeses, sourced from three different artisan producers, were already in the hands of the criminals. The stolen stock was valued at approximately $390,000.
In an Instagram update last fall, Neal’s Yard Dairy stated:
“Neal’s Yard Dairy has been the victim of a theft resulting in the loss of over 22 tonnes (24.25 tons) of clothbound cheddar. Over 950 wheels of Hafod, Westcombe, and Pitchfork Cheddar were delivered before the fraud was discovered. Despite the significant financial blow, we have honored our commitment to our small-scale suppliers and paid all three artisan cheesemakers in full.”
The investigation began shortly after the theft, with a 63-year-old man initially arrested on suspicion of fraud by false representation and handling stolen goods. Further arrests followed in the new year, including a 37-year-old man in January on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and handling stolen goods. Additional arrests involved men aged 45, 54, 57 and 63, with a 50-year-old also interviewed under caution. All six men have been released under investigation while detectives from the Metropolitan Police’s Specialist Crime Command continue inquiries.
Tom Calver, director of Westcombe Dairy in Somerset and producer of some of the stolen cheese, said in an interview with the Independent that he was “hugely distressed” by the theft.
“It is ridiculous, out of all the things to steal in the world, 24 tons of cheese,” Calver said. “What it does show, which I am amazed about, is the value people put on these amazing artisan foods.”
Patrick Holden, owner of Holden Farm Dairy, revealed that 2.5 tons of his Hafod Welsh cheddar were also part of the stolen stock.
“It was the biggest order we ever had, so it was quite a shock,” Holden said. “Our cheese is limited in quantity, but we had it in storage, and we worked out it was the most we could spare.”
Neal’s Yard Dairy has confirmed that all three artisanal cheesemakers were paid in full, ensuring they did not bear any financial loss. The company continues to work with police to identify the perpetrators and recover the stolen cheese.