The National Police dismantled a group suspected of engaging in terrorist activities and the illegal selling of condoms and erectile dysfunction drugs through messaging apps. The operation highlighted serious lapses in medical oversight during both manufacturing and subsequent prescriptions, raising urgent public health concerns.
As a result of the raid, authorities arrested 10 individuals of Chinese origin, most of whom were residents in the Barcelona metropolitan area, including Badalona and L’Hospitalet de Llobregat. Investigators recovered 50 electronic devices, among them mobile phones and laptops, 20,000 condoms of various brands, and thousands of boxes containing erectile dysfunction medications sourced from China, Japan, India, and the United States. Several topical sexual stimulants were also seized, along with 15,525 euros in cash. The distribution network extended beyond regional boundaries, underscoring a nationwide reach.
The sale of these products represented a significant public health hazard due to the lack of quality control in both production and the subsequent prescribing process. The operation revealed that the purged criminal organization operated as a tightly knit business network for importing, distributing, and selling condoms and drugs across Spain. Evidence indicated marketing activities extending to Poland and Italy, suggesting a broader European footprint.
through prostitutes
Investigators identified women involved in prostitution who advertised services on online platforms and who offered condoms and erectile dysfunction drugs to clients. During searches of two residences, authorities seized 50 electronic devices, 20,000 condoms from multiple brands, thousands of boxes of erectile dysfunction medications from various international origins, and over 15,500 euros in cash. The scale of the seizures reflected a highly organized operation with professional management of orders and payments.
The investigation began following a customer complaint. The client reported purchasing a condom from a well-known brand that proved to be of poor quality and alerted the shipping company. The company’s Security Delegate notified the National Police, prompting the Central Cybercrime Unit to initiate the inquiry and to coordinate the initial investigative steps.
national sales
Through extensive procedures with the parcel company, investigators confirmed the operation’s existence and traced a nationwide buyer base primarily linked to prostitution. This allowed officers to gather valuable information about product postings and delivery addresses, revealing that items were advertised and sold via instant messaging applications. Additional insights emerged about condom quality and the effectiveness of the erectile dysfunction drugs being circulated.
Samples of condoms were provided by victims for testing. The Spanish Medicines and Healthcare Products Agency, commonly known as AEMPS, identified in expert reports that the products did not meet the required standards for commercialization within the country and could not guarantee an adequate level of protection. Conversely, the distributor denied the allegations, labeling the products as counterfeit since the expiration dates did not align with batch numbers, the condoms showed weak borders, and branding elements did not correspond with the original brand.
professional criminals
By late April, investigators searched two residences in Barcelona’s metropolitan area, including Badalona and Hospitalet de Llobregat, where the main suspects resided. The Badalona location yielded a substantial stock of condoms and erectile dysfunction medications, accompanied by a large collection of computer devices. This supported the conclusion that the criminal activity had become highly professional and specialized, with 22 mobile phones linked to systems that managed customer orders and sales in a streamlined, coordinated fashion.
On-site analysis showed sophisticated security measures designed to avoid detection, including applications that anonymized internet connections and browsers enabling incognito mode or dark web browsing, effectively erasing visible browsing histories and complicating investigative efforts. Furthermore, investigators uncovered a website managed by the principal figure that offered an erectile dysfunction drug in a format consistent with what was found during the home searches, underscoring the scale and persistence of the operation.