A 49-year-old man has been arrested at Gran Canaria Airport for attempting to smuggle nearly 1,000 grams of cocaine hidden inside his body in plastic capsules. The Guardia Civil detained him after he tried to evade security controls by using airport services designated for people with reduced mobility.
The arrest took place during routine State Fiscal Protection duties, carried out by the Customs and Special Tax Administration at Gran Canaria Airport. The man, arriving on a flight from Europe via the Spanish mainland, raised suspicions among officers, leading to a thorough inspection.
Initially, no illicit items were discovered in his hand luggage. However, the man's nervous demeanour prompted officers to subject him to a radiological test.
The test results revealed numerous bullet-shaped capsules inside his body, and the man confessed to having swallowed 58 capsules of cocaine, each measuring 5cm in length, prior to the flight.
After the scan, the detainee was admitted to a hospital to ensure the safe expulsion of all the capsules, as if they burst inside the body, it can be fatal.
Subsequent analysis confirmed the capsules contained more than 900 grams of cocaine, and the man was arrested for drug trafficking. Following his arrest, the man and the seized drugs were handed over to the Telde Court of Investigation, which subsequently ordered his imprisonment.
This incident highlights the rigorous security measures in place at Canary Island airports and the diligence of the Guardia Civil in intercepting drug trafficking attempts. The use of radiological testing in this case was crucial in uncovering the concealed drugs, showing the effectiveness of advanced screening techniques in combating smuggling operations.
