10th January 2026
Barcelona NewsCatalonia NewsMadrid NewsMain News

Four ‘drug mummies’ detained at Barcelona airport

Spain’s National Police have detained four people at Barcelona-El Prat Airport, two of them carrying 186 cylinders of cocaine inside their bodies – and two others with more with 5.5 kgs strapped around their legs (main image).

Police organised several controls on arrivals from what they consider to be ‘hot’ flights due to their origin from South America, and found the first two suspects due to the fact that they were acting very nervously and had conflicting stories about their flight. After a short interview, law enforcement agents considered they could be carrying drugs.

After police searched their luggage, they requested X-rays of their bodies to be taken, where they found several objects that could be containers to carry drugs.

The two suspects were taken to the Hospital de Bellvitge, where police waited for the cylinders to be removed to discover it was pure cocaine.

A few days later, in another control, agents discovered two suspect travellers carrying drugs in their belongings. After a further security check, they found several bags of cocaine strapped around their legs.

The modus operandi is known as ‘drug mummies,’ in reference to the way that they try to conceal the drugs by wrapping them around their bodies with tape and bandages.

In the second incident, police arrested a man and a woman who carried 2.5 kg and 3 kg of cocaine, respectively.

Sign up for the FREE Weekly Newsletter from Spain in English.

Click here for the latest Spain in English Special Wine Club Offer.

Please support Spain in English with a donation.

Click here to get your business activity or services listed on our DIRECTORY.

Click here for further details on how to ADVERTISE with us.

 

Recent Posts

PM Sánchez defends Spain’s immigration model, urging Europe to take note

News Desk

Spain signs landmark agreement with Catholic Church to compensate clergy abuse victims

News Desk

Pedro Sánchez says Spanish troops could also participate in peacekeeping mission in Ukraine

News Desk

Podemos founding member and former MP Errejón to stand trial for alleged sexual assault

News Desk

Weather warnings issued across Spain, as parts of Europe face transport chaos from cold snap

News Desk

Spain joins European allies in rejecting Trump’s call for US control of Greenland

News Desk

Leave a Comment