Airport worker in Fuerteventura arrested for stealing from travelers' luggage

The arrest took place after a passenger reported on 3 December 2025 that cash had been taken from inside her checked luggage. She said an envelope containing €5,000 had disappeared from a suitcase checked for a flight to London Gatwick, according to a press release from the Civil Guard.

The Civil Guard of Fuerteventura Airport, operating under the so‑called “Operation Bodega,” detained a worker at the airport as a suspected perpetrator of a continuous theft crime involving travelers’ luggage.

Security‑camera footage from the areas with luggage access allowed agents to identify the employee opening a suitcase that matched the description provided by the complainant.

Further investigation revealed that the detainee had repeated the conduct on numerous occasions, always acting alone and exploiting moments when he could avoid being observed by other staff. In the recordings, the suspect can be seen slipping items into the pockets of his work clothing.

Authorities also coordinated with the manager of the baggage‑handling system (SATE) to identify potentially affected flights, requesting information from several airlines.

Simultaneously, they contacted gold and second‑hand dealers in the region, uncovering numerous jewelry sales carried out by the suspect during 2025, amounting to a total value of €9,291.

After the suspect’s arrest, his vehicle was searched, where officials found:

• Small pieces of jewelry, initially valued at about €50
• Banknotes of various nationalities, presumably linked to the previously stolen cash

Given these findings, the Civil Guard believes the detainee is responsible for continuous theft of belongings and several attempted thefts, raising the total estimated value of the stolen goods to €14,291.

The man has been placed at judicial disposal, while the investigation remains open pending further actions and possible claims from other passengers.