Spanish cops bust criminal gang of airport workers behind £1.7M of thefts from luggage at Tenerife airport

A criminal gang of airport workers who stole almost £1.7million worth of goods from passengers' suitcases has been busted at a Spanish holiday hotspot.

Police arrested 14 people and are investigating another 20 following a spike in complaints at Tenerife South Airport concerning thefts from checked bags.

Among the carriers that fly to the airport are Ryanair, easyJet, Jet2 and British Airways.

The group of crooks loaded and unloaded checked luggage at a slower pace so they had time to open the cases in the hold.

They would puncture the zippers to open them up, remove any valuables from inside, then close the zip again, leaving no indication of tampering.

Their crimes were sometimes hidden from view by other suitcases, but they also exploited the rigid tarpaulins used to stop luggage sliding around in the hold.

Among the stolen items were jewellery, mobile phones, watches and electronic devices, which were hidden in their lockers or in clothes with specially-made seams.

In footage of the police raid, officers open a locker to find a pair of aviation ear defenders with a golden ring stashed in one earpiece.

Photos of the seized loot shows stacks of cash, a Playstation 5 and Nintendo Switch, plus phones and designer watches.

The total value of the stolen objects is estimated at €1,953,571 (£1.68million).

In a statement, Spain's Civil Guard said: 'We carried out several searches, both at the lockers of these airport workers and in their private vehicles and homes.

'In total, we seized 29 high-end watches, 120 pieces of jewellery including gold and precious stones, 22 high-end mobile phones, electronic devices, 13,000 euros in cash and a high-end vehicle.'

The gang was carefully organised, police said, with each person having an assigned role.

'The members of this criminal group were perfectly structured, with functions defined in a hierarchical manner,' the statement said.

'Each one was in charge of one of the parts of the commission of the crime.

'Choosing the flight, hiding the stolen effects, removing them from the airport facilities, selling them in jewellery stores or through the internet, distribution of profits, etc.'

Police are also investigating 27 jewellery stores in the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, after many of the objects were sold through physical and virtual second-hand stores.

Those arrested face charges of belonging to a criminal group, robbery with force, damages and money laundering.

Ryanair, easyJet, Jet2 and British Airways have been contacted for comment.