The Civil Guard seizes 70,000 medications in 20 checked bags at a Canary Islands airport

The Civil Guard has seized 70,000 medications in 20 checked bags at Tenerife North Airport and has opened an investigation into five people as alleged perpetrators of a crime against public health and another crime against social security.

A statement from the Civil Guard reports that the investigated individuals are three men aged 83, 21, and 27, and two women aged 85 and 55, and the medications were seized for lacking the corresponding documentation and the approval of the Spanish Agency of Medicines.

The statement indicates that it was the security guards who examine checked baggage traveling in the aircraft holds with X-rays who alerted the Civil Guard upon finding something suspicious in the suitcases.

The agents examined 20 packages in different inspections over several recent days, in which they found more than 70,000 medications, collectively owned by the five investigated individuals, all of whom were passengers preparing to travel independently on different flights.

The Civil Guard reminds that the responsible use of medications following appropriate health controls, as well as their sale, transport, and distribution without traceability and control by health authorities, can lead to serious health problems, as well as non-compliance with the specific regulations governing this matter, which could result in administrative or criminal sanctions.