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WOOL buyers in China have been fleeced after high quality wool bales were illegally swapped for lower quality ones before they were shipped out of Melbourne.
Victoria Police believes the swaps have been occurring since May, with buyers in China discovering the thefts once the low quality bales arrived.
Detective Inspector Jamie Templeton said replacing high-value wool with a significantly lower-value product was a serious matter.
“This is not only due to the total value of the wool stolen but also the potential damage it poses to the Australian export industry,†Det Insp Templeton said.
“These thefts are incredibly damaging to the livelihood and reputations of the brokers who export this product.
“We believe there may be more people who have been a victim of these thefts and we encourage them to come forward and report it to police.â€