A man was arrested at Tenerife South Airport yesterday afternoon (Tuesday) after trying to use a fake passport from the Czech Republic to board a plane to the UK, according to a statement released by the National Police. The arrest took place at passport control, where officers spotted the forged document.
The detainee, of Albanian origin, had travelled by road from Albania to Serbia and then flown to Barcelona, eventually arriving in Tenerife. He was detained while attempting to board a flight bound for Belfast.
Police believe the man took advantage of the end of the summer holidays, when airports are busier with people returning home, to try to blend in and avoid detection.
The authorities are investigating further, as the ticket for the suspect's flight was purchased by another person abroad. Police suspect the involvement of a larger network facilitating illegal trafficking of people, and efforts are underway to identify those responsible for orchestrating these activities.
