The Great Syrup Swindle

Scamfluencers

Wondery

Society & Culture

4.1 • 7K Ratings

🗓️ 2 October 2023

⏱️ 40 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In Quebec, maple syrup is tightly regulated by a government-backed federation. It controls syrup prices – and profits. When a group of outlaws discovers they can make a ton of money by circumventing the federation, they devise a risky plan. Their dramatic heist reaps super sweet rewards… until things get a little too sticky.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, Primembers, you can listen to Scamplenzer's ad-free on Amazon Music. Download the app today.
0:13.1	Sarah, is there anything that makes you proud to be a Canadian? Is it the beer? Is it the beavers? Is it the pass of aggression?
0:21.7	Oh, that's a tough question. There are certain Canadians that I think are cool, but I'm not one for
0:29.8	nationalistic pride. That's true. Well, what about the maple syrup then? I guess I feel some pride
0:37.0	towards that. It's great stuff. I love using it. I love eating it and people are impressed by it.
0:43.4	Well, it turns out Canada's maple syrup industry is a lot scamier than one might guess. So, Sarah,
0:49.9	today we're going back home. Put on your tube and carry your best English to French dictionary.
0:55.9	We're going to Quebec. In July 2012, accountant Michel Govero arrives in the tiny Canadian town of
1:06.9	St. Louis de Blancford. It's nestled between Montreal and Quebec City, and it's known for its
1:11.8	picturesque landscapes and cranberry farms. It's basically a postcard for quiet country living.
1:17.8	But, Michel isn't here as a tourist. He's here for an important government audit, because this small
1:23.4	town is a central hub for one of Quebec's most precious resources, maple syrup. Quebec makes over
1:30.4	70% of the world's maple syrup, and it's super valuable. Around the time Michel shows up for this audit,
1:36.7	one barrel is worth about 13 times more than a barrel of crude oil. For context, a barrel holds
1:43.4	more than 600 pounds of syrup. Michel is taking inventory. He's literally counting the barrels that
1:49.2	are stacked all the way to the ceiling, about 20 feet high. But as he reaches the top, they start
1:54.7	wobbling beneath them, and he almost falls over. He freaks out. These barrels should be heavy,
2:00.8	so he knows that something's not right. Michel knocks on one of the barrels, and it sounds hollow.
2:06.7	He unscrews the lid, and his worst fears are confirmed. The barrel is empty, and then he decides to
2:13.5	open one of the heavy barrels. And to his horror, he realizes that it's filled with water. Michel
2:20.8	panics. In total, more than 6 million pounds of maple syrup has vanished. It's worth around 18
2:27.6	million Canadian dollars. This becomes huge news. And soon, the ones quiet town is swarming with cops
	...

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