A routine customs check at Gran Canaria airport has led to what authorities describe as an “unprecedented” heroin seizure, after officers discovered more than six kilograms of the drug hidden inside a passenger’s luggage.
The Guardia Civil say they are “stunned” by the scale of the find.
The incident took place when officers, operating under the functional authority of Spanish Customs and Excise, were carrying out checks on passengers arriving from so-called “hot flights”, routes considered high-risk for smuggling.
The suspect, a 35-year-old man travelling on a flight from Amsterdam, drew attention due to his nervous behaviour shortly after landing. When approached for inspection, he suddenly attempted to flee, sprinting out of the Arrivals area in a bid to escape officers. However, Guardia Civil agents quickly intercepted him outside the terminal.
Record heroin haul discovered
A detailed search of the passenger’s suitcase revealed several oddly shaped packages and a significant amount of cash, alongside other items linked to drug trafficking. Tests confirmed the powder inside was heroin, weighing more than six kilos, making it one of the largest seizures of this type of drug ever recorded at a Canary Islands airport.
“This is a seizure without precedent in this area for this kind of substance,” the Guardia Civil said in a statement, adding that they were “truly shocked” by the quantity involved.
Following the discovery, the suspect was arrested and formally charged with crimes against public health in the category of drug trafficking. After being presented along with the seized drugs before the duty court in Telde, Gran Canaria, the judge ordered his immediate remand in custody.
The operation underscores the Canary Islands’ ongoing role as a transit point in international drug routes, partly due to their strategic position between Europe, Africa and Latin America. Authorities continue to intensify checks at airports and ports to combat the smuggling of narcotics into Europe.
