Fourteen workers at an airport in Tenerife have been arrested on suspicion of stealing items from luggage, Spanish police have said.
Officers seized items, allegedly stolen, worth almost €2m from the group of employees at Tenerife South airport on Spain's Canary Islands.
A further 20 members of staff are being investigated.
Tenerife South airport is served by airlines such as easyJet, Ryanair and British Airways.
National police force Guardia Civil opened an investigation after a spike in passenger complaints about items missing from their luggage.
It said the thefts happened after baggage was placed in the hold of planes.
Airport workers forced open suitcases, took out valuables and shut them, leaving no sign of tampering.
Screens designed to stop luggage moving during flights were positioned to hide their actions.
#OperacionesGC I Detenidos varios trabajadores del aeropuerto #Tenerife Sur por #robar en las maletas de los pasajeros
— Guardia Civil (@guardiacivil) December 15, 2023
▶️14 detenidos
▶️20 investigados
▶️Valor de efectos recuperados 2M€https://t.co/bPGRlhBPQ2 pic.twitter.com/Na7ol4Hki6
Workers removed stolen items from the airport using hidden compartments inside clothing and equipment, police said.
In one example, a ring was concealed inside ear defenders.
Authorities seized 29 luxury watches, 120 items of jewellery, 22 high-end mobile phones and €13,000 in cash.
Police believe the suspects sold many other items online and in local shops.
