Airport workers caught in cocaine bust

A CRIMINAL organisation which used Adolfo Suarez-Madrid Barajas airport to introduce cocaine into Spain was disbanded by National Police. Among the 23 people arrested, two airport workers formed an important part of the process by receiving the drugs and avoiding them being detected during security checks.

During the investigation, which began in June 2013, more than 165 kilos of cocaine were confiscated.

The group used a method referred to as by hand to continuously bring amounts ranging between seven and 13 kilos of cocaine into the country. Carriers were paid between €3,000 and €5,000 to carry the drugs in their hand-luggage after it was handed to them inside departure airports, mainly in Bolivia. As soon as the planes landed in Madrid the two airport workers discretely took the drugs from them and removed them from the airport, making the most of the fact that as workers they were not required to pass security tests.

Officers surprised the workers during one of these operations. The two entered terminal one of the airport wearing their uniforms and a passenger was seen to approach them and pass over a rucksack. Both workers were detained and a search revealed 10 kilos of cocaine in a hidden pocket.

Another nine members of the group and 12 carriers were also arrested during the police operation.