The Guardia Civil and the Tax Agency have seized 1,144 tablets of sildenafil—a drug known as Viagra—at Palma airport. The incident took place on Thursday 16 April during a routine passenger check on a flight from Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) with a stopover in Madrid.
In a press release, the Guardia Civil and the Tax Agency stated that, after identifying a 47-year-old passenger, officers proceeded to inspect his luggage using an X-ray scanner. Upon observing suspicious images, the suitcase was opened manually, where they found six boxes labelled “Sildenafil Citrate 100 mg”, containing a total of 1,144 tablets of this drug.
During the administrative check, officers established that the passenger lacked the necessary documentation to prove legal possession or the lawful importation of the drug into the European Union. Consequently, the goods were seized in their entirety and a report of an administrative offence under the Smuggling Act was drawn up.
Key Facts About Viagra
How it Works: It works by relaxing the muscles and widening blood vessels in the penis, which increases blood flow to the area.
Sexual Arousal is Required: Viagra does not cause an automatic erection; a person must still be sexually aroused for the medication to be effective.
Onset and Duration: It typically starts working within 30 to 60 minutes and its effects can last for approximately 4 to 6 hours.
Administration: It is usually taken as an oral tablet on an as-needed basis, ideally on an empty stomach for faster absorption.
Other Uses: Sildenafil is also used under different brand names (like Revatio) to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension, which is high blood pressure in the lungs.