A joint operation by the Tax Agency and the Guardia Civil

• The drug was detected in a postal package at the Foronda airport (Álava)
• A person has been arrested

February 23, 2023.- Officials of the Customs Surveillance Service of the Tax Agency and agents of the Civil Guard, in a joint operation, have arrested a person for introducing 1.5 kilos of ketamine impregnated in textile material and have dismantled the 'home laboratory' in Asturias where the narcotic substance was extracted.

The operation began on February 8, when officials from the Customs Surveillance Service of the Tax Agency in the Basque Country and agents from the Civil Guard, integrated into the Risk Analysis Unit of the Regional Customs Unit and II. USA from the Basque Country, detected a postal shipment that could contain a substance that could be narcotic.

After carrying out the corresponding checks, it was determined that the package contained 1.5 kilos of ketamine, and that the drug was impregnated in a textile material. The package was destined for another point in the national geography and the sender intended to deliver it by postal delivery.

Subsequent efforts made it possible to find out that the shipment had been made from Bangladesh and that it was destined for the municipality of El Berrón-Siero (Asturias). After coordinating the investigation with the Customs Surveillance Service and the Civil Guard of that district, it was possible to identify the person who was to receive the shipment, a resident of the aforementioned province.

Finally, and with the mandatory judicial authorization, on February 14, a series of actions were carried out that allowed his arrest and bringing him to justice for an alleged crime of drug trafficking.

'Home laboratory'

After entering and searching the detainee's home, it was found that it was being used as a laboratory to extract the drugs from the textile material in which it was impregnated. In the house, both supplies for carrying out the process and 75 already treated towels were found, which denotes the exercise of a significant illegal activity that has continued over time.

With this action, one of the entry routes for this type of drug is considered dismantled, both in the Autonomous Community of the Principality of Asturias and in Galicia, places of drug distribution.