Unscrupulous businessman in Spain suspected of stealing two million face masks as coronavirus crisis developed

Face masks are like gold in coronavirus-ravaged Spain, and now news has emerged that a businessman in Galicia is under arrest for stealing two million.

POLICE detained the businessman in Santiago de Compostela on suspicion he was in on the theft of the masks and other health protection materials like surgical gloves, trousers and first-aid kits from a warehouse owned by a company which was going bankrupt.

Investigators believe the materials, valued at some €5 million, were stolen when Covid-19 was already a serious public health problem in several countries and sold to a company in Portugal.

Footage from CCTV cameras plus witness statements pointed the police in the direction of the businessman.

Police have requested Portugal’s collaboration in the investigation, which remains open to find out whether there were others involved.