Barcelona is one of the main local links in a Guardia Civil operation that seized 10,000 doses of illegal botulinum toxin, commonly known as botox, and led to nine arrests across Spain. Two people were arrested in Barcelona as part of the investigation into the illegal distribution of aesthetic medicines and products.
The Guardia Civil said the network allegedly imported these pharmaceuticals from Asia without proper safety or control measures. The products were then sold and administered in unauthorised settings, including hairdressing salons, beauty centres and private homes.
The investigation began a year ago after several packages containing medicines and health products from South Korea and Vietnam were found at Vitoria Airport. Those products included botox, hyaluronic acid and diabetes drugs often used for weight loss.
The Guardia Civil said the products entered Spain without health authorisation and did not meet legal transport and storage requirements, including the cold chain. It said this created a significant risk for users. More Catalonia news
Among those implicated were healthcare professionals who allegedly carried out treatments using the illegal products, as well as people without medical training. The operation involved seven searches across four provinces, with four arrests and two investigations in Biscay, two arrests in Barcelona, two in Las Palmas and one in Asturias.
During the searches, agents found the 10,000 units of botox and more than 200 vials of illegal hyaluronic acid ready for use. They also found more than €115,000, which investigators believe came from these unregulated treatments. For official information on the force, see the Guardia Civil and the Spanish Ministry of Health.
Health authorities have warned about the risks of aesthetic procedures carried out by unqualified people or in unauthorised premises, especially when products cannot be traced. The investigation is continuing to protect public safety and stop further distribution of the products.
