Today is Tuesday, April 28th, 2020.

On this day in 2017, three men were sentenced for their roles in one of the biggest heists in Canadian history.

But they didn't rob a bank or steal a collection of valuable jewels.

They stole 18.7 million Canadian dollars worth of maple syrup.

Welcome to Today in True Crime, a parcast original.

Today we're covering the sentencing of the men responsible for what has been dubbed the Great Canadian Maple

Syrup Heist. Let's go back to Tuar Rivaya, Quebec on April 28th, 2017.

Richard Valier, his father Raymond, and Aetien Saint Pierre stood before the judge awaiting

their fates.

Despite their protestations of innocence, the three men had been found guilty of leading the effort to of 2011 and 2012.

The plot had attracted significant attention after authorities realized the syrup was missing

in July of 2012.

Many of the people outside Quebec couldn't help but wonder, why maple syrup?

The word cartel evokes imagery of violent drug gangs, or perhaps oil organizations like OPEC that

dictate the price of fossil fuels.

Very few people think of the Federation of Quebec Maple Serrup producers.

High fructose corn syrup, like Aunt Jemima's or Mrs Butterworths, can be made in any old factory.

But real, honest to God, maple syrup can only come from a small area in North America

where maple trees thrive, and a large portion of that territory is in Quebec.

Historically, over 70% of the global maple syrup supply

comes from this Canadian province.

But the problem with maple syrup is the same as many agricultural products.

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