Costa News Spain Breaking News | English News in Spain.
Authorities have busted the largest illegal Botox network in Spain that imported illegal drugs from South Korea.
Websites were used to order products that are not approved for use because of safety concerns. Then, unqualified staff would use them on patients.
Guardia Civil investigates complaints of potential victims. Some very serious cases have been reported where people received unauthorised Botox.
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Guardia has arrested four people and is investigating 41 others.
The charge sheet contains 53 offenses against public health. Fraud, professional intrusion, and membership to a criminal group are also included.
The gang was able to launder money through a network of bank accounts and people in different countries.
Four properties in San Pedro de Alcantara, Torrevieja and Cartagena were searched.
Guardia officers raided and seized 40 illegal drugs and health products from 24 clinics or clandestine establishments located in the provinces of Alicante and Cadiz.
The removal of 700 vials each of botulinum, 275 of hyaluronidase as well as more than 200 of containers of lidocaine were among the items.
Officers also seized over 1,000 prefilled syringes with hyaluronic, as well centrifuges and other machines used for treating platelet-rich Plasma.
No official certification was attached to any of the products.
Sevilla airport has made significant seizures, mainly of South Korean illegal drugs and medical devices.
The members of the criminal group advertised the imported products on social media and distributed them to clinics with unqualified staff or those that were licensed but not certified in aesthetic medicine.
