Tourists travelling to and from Tenerife South Airport have been issued a gang warning after holidaymakers reported high-value items vanishing from their suitcases. This prompted Spanish police to bust a thieving gang in a huge suitcase robbery ring.
The massive crime network is accused of stealing valuables from visitors’ suitcases and funneling them into the black market. Police say, items valued at more than £52,000 were seized. Police say at least 20 people are under investigation in connection with the dramatic heist, which targeted an array of passengers, including British holidaymakers. The gang targeted unassuming passenger suitcases whilst they were either being loaded or unloaded from aircraft on the runway.
Detectives say they believe the racket was driven by airport workers.
Security sources say the gang stole luxury watches, jewellery, smartphones and other electronics. All these items that could easily be resold for a good profit.
The Guardia Civil began the crackdown during the early hours of Tuesday, September 30 when the force made their way into the aiport and carried out coordinated searches across several areas of the terminal.
Police then stormed a jewellers in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the islands capital, and spent three hours carefullu going through stock trying to establish whether the shop had received stolen items from the gang.
Tenerife Civil Guard spokeswoman Inma Gonzalez said: “The Civil Guard has arrested 30 people related to the many thefts from suitcases of travellers using Tenerife South Airport.
“This operation originated following an exhaustive analysis of evidence gathered from a previous operation at the end of 2023.
“Another 21 people have been placed under investigation, resulting in 51 being accused of various crimes including membership of a criminal gang, theft, receiving stolen goods, criminal damage and money laundering.
“Officers carried out an inspection of a jeweller’s in the Tenerife capital Santa Cruz de Tenerife yesterday where some of the accused allegedly sold some of the valuables stolen from travellers’ luggage.
“Items valued at more than £52,000 were seized.
“In total 85 people in total have so far been investigated over these very serious criminal offences.”
The case is being overseen by the Court in Granadilla de Abona, which has imposed secrecy orders to prevent details leaking.
Holidaymakers are now being warned to keep their personal items on them rather than packing them away. Tourists are now rushing to express their surprise.
One Tenerife holidaymaker commented: “We are in shock.
“We know there is organised crime on the island and that there have been suitcase thefts at the airport but the extent of this is quite alarming.”