• The detainee, a healthcare professional, acquired botulinum toxin through the internet outside of authorized channels.

• The use of these medicines outside the legal system poses a serious risk to public health, as their origin, preservation, and safety cannot be guaranteed.

May 6, 2026. Customs Surveillance officials from the Tax Agency and agents of the Civil Guard of Álava, within the framework of operation 'Botuli4', have arrested a 50-year-old man, a professional in the health sector, for buying botulinum toxin through the internet outside of authorized channels.

The investigation began last March after the interception of a postal shipment at the Foronda airport in Vitoria-Gasteiz that contained vials of botulinum toxin. From that moment on, the investigators were able to identify the recipient, subsequently proceeding to search his home in Bilbao.

During the search, more vials of this substance were found, as well as material intended for its application. The detainee acquired the product through the internet, evading the controls of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and official pharmaceutical channels.

The use of these types of medications outside the legal system poses a serious risk to public health, as it does not guarantee their origin or their proper maintenance in the cold chain, which can affect their effectiveness and patient safety.

The detainee has been brought before the court.