In the past month, the National Police have arrested six people at Tenerife South Airport for crimes related to document fraud. The latest arrest took place just days ago, involving an Albanian citizen who was attempting to travel to the UK using a falsified Italian passport.
Tenerife South Airport has seen a significant increase in traffic in recent years, now ranking as Spain’s third-busiest airport, after Madrid and Barcelona. The airport hosts over 100 international connections, with 52 airlines in operation, particularly focusing on routes to the UK and Ireland. International operations have surged by more than 20% this year.
The departure of the UK from the European Union has greatly expanded the workload for the National Police at this crucial border checkpoint. During peak periods, especially in the summer, Tenerife South handles over 100 daily flights, with more than 20,000 foreign travellers passing through border controls every day.
Despite this high passenger volume, the National Police have maintained efficient operations, managing extended hours due to flight delays and passenger issues. Within this context, six people, primarily Albanian, as well as some from Iran and Nigeria, were detained over the past month for using falsified documents.
The detainees have been handed over to the judicial authorities, with deportation proceedings initiated. To combat the rise in illegal activities, border security has been strengthened, with a focus on preventing document fraud and enhancing safety across Spain’s external Schengen borders.
