Members of the Guardia Civil who police Málaga Airport customs, stand trial for taking bribes. The Public Prosecutor recommends three years suspension and fines of between 300 and 600 euros.

These 17 policemen allegedly took bribes to ‘look the other way,’ or even speed up procedures. An Asian man is also being tried for giving money to the policemen to pass foodstuffs through the Customs office.

It appears that it was the policemen themselves that approached certain passengers on some flights – Chinese citizens, mainly, according to the accusation. Family members warned that they should have a 50-euro note ready in their hand “to avoid problems with the Guardia Civil” when they passed through Customs.

The accused were arrested in February 2006 and it was found that some of them had let through foodstuffs that could not be imported from that region of the world because of bird flu concerns.

The International Investigations Department of the Guardia Civil had their work cut out because of the ‘work place’ and tight airport security, but they came up with the idea of installing cameras in the computers in the Customs office, as well as moving slightly the CCTV cameras so that they focused directly on the officers. They also installed a microphone in the computer (tower) in the room where passengers are normally quizzed – obviously the money exchanged was not done in full view where other passengers were passing through.

Finally, the accused also allegedly approached a Norwegian couple, demanding money, over food that they had brought in for their daughter; i.e., brands not available in Spain.

Editorial Comment: Suspended? Surely they should be expelled from the force and barred from ever holding such a position ever again?

(News: Malaga, Andalucia)