Members of a baby formula ‘cartel’ have been caught on camera stealing tins of the powdered product to sell on the lucrative overseas market.
Security footage captured in a number of Sydney supermarkets shows what appears to be a gang of tradesmen in high-visibility clothing stuffing cans of formula into their bags and casually walking away.
The brazen burglars are thought to be shipping tonnes of the coveted commodity to international buyers – with one man allegedly leading police to a 24-foot container packed full of formula, Seven News reports.
Members of a baby formula ‘cartel’ have been caught on camera stealing tins of the powdered product with suspected plans to sell them on to international buyers
Australian-made baby formula fetches a high price in overseas markets such as China, where the domestically produced equivalents are not deemed to be as safe nor as pure
Australian-made baby formula fetches a high price in overseas markets such as China, where the domestically produced equivalents are not considered as safe or as pure.
Chinese Sydneysiders are frequently seen buying up produce from Australian chemists and sending them back home, or advertising them on social media to make themselves a sizable profit.
These shoppers are known as ‘daigou’ – a Chinese word that translates to ‘buying on behalf of’.
It is understood that the new Sydney-wide cartel of shoplifting formula dealers is tapping in to this booming baby formula market.
In 2017, digital marketer Benjamin Sun from Think China estimated there were around 80,000 ‘daigou’ plying their trade in Australia – up from 40,000 in 2014.
Chinese Sydneysiders are frequently seen buying up produce from Australian chemists and sending them back home, or advertising them on social media to make themselves a sizable profit
It is understood that the new Sydney-wide cartel of shoplifting formula dealers is tapping in to this booming baby formula market
Diagou shoppers have been criticised in the past, however, after footage emerged of huge queues of people waiting to stockpile baby formula and ship it overseas – while Australian mothers were left with limited access to the product.
In attempts to combat stockpiled baby formula, where some footage showed customers grabbing it off the trolleys before it could even reach the shelves, major supermarkets were forced to set consumer limits.
Woolworths announced in October 2017 that the supermarket chain was introducing a stricter limit in order to give all customers a fair chance.
‘At Woolworths, we understand the frustration that our customers can feel when they can’t get the products they need and this is another example where we’ve taken action to do the right thing,’ said merchandise manager James Hepworth.
‘This is particularly the case when it comes to family necessities such as baby formula.’
In attempts to combat stockpiled baby formula, where some footage showed customers grabbing it off the trolleys before it could even reach the shelves, major supermarkets were forced to set consumer limits
At the time of the reduced limit announcement, Mr Hepworth said the majority of Woolworths customers purchase only the necessary amounts of baby formula.
‘However, by reducing our can limit to two per shop means we are better placed to support our customers in purchasing this essential item.’
‘Our two-tin formula limit has been in place since October 2017 and is designed to ensure more of our customers have access to the products they need for their family,’ he said.
‘While the majority of customers only buy the product they need for their family, our store teams continue to work hard to uphold the two-tin limit.
‘We continue to look for new ways to ensure guaranteed stock for Australian families with our suppliers.’
Daily Mail Australia has contacted NSW Police for comment about the alleged ‘cartel’.