Potentially dangerous cosmetics and medical equipment seized

OFFICERS of Seprona, part of the Guardia Civil in La Rioja have arrested five people for the sale of expired chemical, sanitary and cosmetic products.

Those involved in these alleged crimes against public health are a 71-year-old female from Bilbao (Vizcaya), two men aged 65 and 35, natives of La Rioja, and two men, 48 and 66-years-old, from Barcelona and Figueras.

Acting in association with the Department of Health of La Rioja officers raided a property in the area and found more than 32 tons of products with dates that had expired some years earlier and which were kept in unhygienic surroundings.

The release of this material would have constituted a risk to the health of consumers, not only because of its expiry dates and poor condition but also because most of them were mixed and stored together with different highly flammable, corrosive and irritant chemicals.

According to the investigators, a company in Barcelona had been entrusted with the destruction of these health products but instead of destroying them, had sold them to the third party that was raided which in turn sold them on for use.

A range of bandages, medical kits, surgical masks, lipsticks, face creams, eye contour, household cleaning products, dyes, stain removers, air fresheners and adhesives were shipped to Mauritania and Romania with many items also being sold in markets throughout Spain.

The investigation is still on-going as officers try to track down out of date or contaminated items which may still be on sale in markets and bazaars in Spain.