Spanish singer Julio Iglesias was briefly detained at Punta Cana Airport in the Dominican Republic due to a significant amount of food in his luggage, as reported by the Spanish daily La Vanguardia.
The artist, who celebrated his 80th birthday in September, arrived in the Dominican Republic on January 10th from the Bahamas. He was stopped by airport services after his luggage was seized due to its contents.
Inside, 42 kg of various foods: strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, cherries, tomatoes, beets, celery, beans, spinach, lettuce, mushrooms, arugula, meat, and vegetables were intercepted, according to the newspaper Marca.
Inspection by the Ministry of Agriculture Agents The content had to be checked by technicians from the Plant Quarantine Inspection Service (AIPC) of the Ministry of Agriculture at Punta Cana Airport.
The Dominican Ministry assured that it continues to apply these controls at different ports, airports, and the land border with Haiti, to ensure that no animal or plant products enter the country in a way that endangers national production.
For traveling with such a quantity of food, the singer could have faced a much longer arrest, but he was quickly released by the authorities. However, several kilos of products were confiscated from him.
According to the Dominican newspaper Listin Diario, citing the Ministry of Agriculture, this decision was made to prevent the spread of foreign parasites that could harm local crops.
"It's not about him or anyone in particular, it's the same for everyone," said Dominican Minister of Agriculture, Limbert Cruz.
Speaking to Cope radio, one of his friends, Carlos Herrera, indicated that the story was "exaggerated" and that the singer only underwent a routine check.
Father of eight children, five with his current wife Miranda Rijnsburger, Julio Iglesias lives between the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic. He regularly travels with large quantities of food between his various residences, highlighted La Vanguardia, and this flight was no exception.
"I have sometimes brought him seafood from Galicia, because he is from Galicia, and ham," confirmed Makoke, Spanish celebrity and ex-partner of the octogenarian singer.
