Arrested at Port of Almería with 172,718 psychotropic drugs bound for Morocco
The Civil Guard arrested a driver on 25 July with more than 172,000 tablets hidden in a makeshift false compartment, destined for Nador.
Almería: nearly 173,000 psychotropic pills intercepted in false compartment bound for Nador
The Civil Guard detained a person on 25 July at the Port of Almería on suspicion of an offence against public health, according to antena3.com. Agents from the Tax and Border Section seized 172,718 tablets of psychotropic medicines subject to medical prescription, hidden in a makeshift false compartment inside a car that was about to board a vessel to Nador, Morocco.
The driver's behaviour aroused suspicion during routine customs controls. Several anomalies detected in the rear of the bodywork prompted the transfer of the vehicle to the Civil Guard facilities at the port complex for a more detailed technical inspection. When the driver refused to open the compartment beneath the boot, agents proceeded to dismantle part of the structure.
Inside the false compartment, three types of medicines were found: 114,060 tablets of clonazepam (Rivotril) 2 mg, 33,920 tablets of alprazolam (Trankimazin) 2 mg and 24,738 tablets of pregabalin (Lyrica) 300 mg. None of the medicines were in their original packaging; they were distributed in blister packs and lacked any documentation of traceability.
Clonazepam and alprazolam are listed in Schedule IV of the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, which subjects them to specific control due to their potential for abuse. These medicines, together with neuronal modulators such as pregabalin, are commonly used to produce "karkubi", a substance widely prevalent in North Africa and known as the "drug of the poor", associated with serious health risks.
The Almería Command reminded the public that consumption of these medicines outside medical supervision, as well as their illegal purchase or distribution, fuels illegal markets. The institution recommended acquiring medicines exclusively at pharmacies and reporting any suspicion via 062, 112 or the Alertcops application.
Source: Google News ES — Crime (es)