Police Arrest Man Smuggling Nearly 1kg of Hashish at Tenerife South Airport

National Police have arrested a passenger at Tenerife South Airport after discovering he was smuggling drugs inside his body. The man is now under investigation for a crime against public health, a case that highlights ongoing efforts to stop drug trafficking routes between North Africa and Europe.

The traveler arrived on a flight from Agadir and was stopped during a routine border check. His behavior made officers suspicious, leading them to conduct further inspections. A medical examination confirmed he was carrying foreign objects, and he was taken to a hospital under police guard to have the items removed.

In total, officers recovered 79 wraps of hashish weighing 880 grams. This method, known as "body packing," is illegal and extremely dangerous. If a wrap breaks inside the body, it can cause a fatal overdose—a life-threatening risk that criminal groups often force onto the individuals they use as "mules."

Police are now investigating whether the man was working alone or as part of a larger criminal network. They are tracing the origin of the drugs and their intended destination. This arrest is part of the National Police’s ongoing security operations at international entry points, where officers monitor passenger traffic for suspicious activity. Following his medical treatment and the initial investigation, the man was brought before a local court.