At Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández airport, a man of Ukrainian nationality was detained by National Police officers after entering the security zone with the intention of boarding a flight to London. The arrest followed a routine border control operation carried out by the airport’s Border Patrol Unit, which routinely checks travel documents to ensure travelers’ identities and legitimate purposes for travel. During the checks, officers discovered that the individual had presented himself with a name, date of birth, and surname that did not match his real identity, raising immediate questions about his true nationality and background.
Further verification confirmed the existence of an active European Arrest Warrant issued by Hungarian authorities for the man. The warrant cited offenses including fraud, document forgery, and crimes against public trust. Agents at the scene proceeded to detain the individual and detained him at the airport police station while investigations continued to establish his exact identity and the scope of the alleged crimes. The authorities noted that the European arrest warrant had been active since February of the previous year, and it requested the man’s return to Hungary to face charges related to forged administrative documents and the illicit sale of these documents to others.
After confirming the detainee’s identity beyond reasonable doubt, investigators determined that the individual indeed faced charges in Hungary. Depending on the outcome of extradition proceedings, the detainee could potentially face a serious penalty under Hungarian law if extradited and convicted. The case was transferred for further action, with the suspect subsequently moved to Madrid. There, the case was handed over to the Central Court of Investigation of the National Court for ongoing extradition procedures and related judicial steps.
The transfer and ongoing process underscore the cooperation between Spanish authorities and international partners to enforce European arrest warrants and uphold the integrity of travel documentation. The investigation continues under the supervision of the national judicial framework, with authorities ensuring proper due process and adherence to applicable extradition laws and cross-border legal cooperation. The incident highlights the importance of accurate identification checks and robust border control measures in preventing identity fraud and related crimes. The authorities urged anyone with information related to forged documents or document trafficking to cooperate with the relevant law enforcement agencies and to provide timely tips that can aid ongoing investigations.