Judicial File Reveals Police Chief At Madrid-barajas Airport May Have Received ‘Gratuities’
MADRID, Spain — A judicial file in the Plus Ultra investigation indicates that the National Police commissioner responsible for Madrid’s Adolfo Suárez Barajas Airport at the time of a controversial 2020 landing by then-Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez may have received “favors and gratuities” from an alleged influence-peddling network, according to documentation from the inquiry.
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Judge Esperanza Collazos, who initially oversaw the Plus Ultra case before transferring jurisdiction to the National Court, implicated Commissioner Jesús María Gómez Martín in the early stages of the investigation. The judicial file suggests the alleged network may have established contact with Commissioner Gómez Martín, who currently serves as head of the National Police in the Canary Islands.
According to the investigative record, evidence was gathered from a digital chat group designated ‘Danilo-España,’ which included lawyer Miguel Palomero and Venezuelan businessman Danilo Díazgranados. Díazgranados is described in judicial documents as a presumed intermediary for individuals under investigation following the €53 million state-backed rescue of Plus Ultra airlines in 2021.
During court-ordered searches conducted in December at Plus Ultra headquarters, investigators reportedly discovered a business card bearing Commissioner Jesús María Gómez Martín’s name, with his telephone number handwritten on the reverse side. The file also references alleged illicit activities potentially conducted at Cuatro Vientos airfield in Madrid, though specific details regarding these claims remain subject to ongoing judicial review.
Commissioner Gómez Martín served as the senior police official present at Barajas Airport in 2020 when Delcy Rodríguez’s aircraft landed in Spain under circumstances that generated significant diplomatic and political attention. He departed the airport command post in 2022 to assume leadership of National Police operations in the Canary Islands.
In testimony before a Senate commission examining the separate Koldo case, Commissioner Gómez Martín denied that businessman Víctor de Aldama had been present at Barajas during Vice President Rodríguez’s visit. “At the airport, I did not see him; you can believe the word of a suspect or the word of a National Police commissioner,” he stated during the proceedings.
#LoMásLeído | El comisario de Barajas en el 'Delcygate' recibió del 'Grupo Zapatero' "gratificaciones" por facilitar "negocios ilícitos"https://t.co/mjjuqMXBy5
— EL ESPAÑOL (@elespanolcom) May 26, 2026
Following the commissioner’s appearance in the Plus Ultra judicial file, the police union JUPOL issued a statement on Tuesday calling for Gómez Martín’s removal from his current position as head of National Police in the Canary Islands. The union characterized the timing of his promotion following the events known as “Delcygate” as particularly noteworthy, while affirming respect for the presumption of innocence and expressing support for the ongoing investigation conducted by the Economic and Fiscal Crime Unit (UDEF).
Under Spanish criminal procedure, all individuals mentioned in connection with potential criminal activity are presumed innocent until proven guilty through formal judicial proceedings. The National Court will evaluate all evidence presented by investigators, including digital communications, documentary materials, witness testimony, and forensic analysis, before determining whether to advance formal charges or modify the procedural status of those under review.
The Plus Ultra investigation, which originated from a complaint filed by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office in 2024, examines whether public funds allocated for the airline’s rescue were used appropriately or diverted to repay loans to other entities not directly connected to the recovery operation. Financial intelligence alerts from Switzerland and France contributed to the initiation of judicial proceedings.
Legal analysts note that investigations involving law enforcement officials require careful adherence to procedural safeguards while ensuring thorough examination of allegations that may implicate institutional integrity. Spanish judicial protocols provide mechanisms for appeals, evidentiary challenges, and defense representation throughout all stages of investigation and potential prosecution.
As judicial proceedings continue, authorities have indicated that further details will be released through official channels in accordance with applicable legal protocols, judicial secrecy provisions, and privacy considerations. Further updates regarding investigative developments, judicial determinations, or related policy considerations are expected as the National Court and relevant agencies provide additional information through verified sources.
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Note: This report is based on judicial documentation, verified media accounts, and publicly available information regarding ongoing legal proceedings. Legal matters remain subject to Spanish judicial protocols and the presumption of innocence. All individuals mentioned in connection with potential criminal activity are presumed innocent until proven guilty through formal judicial proceedings. Details regarding the ongoing investigation remain subject to judicial secrecy and privacy protections.
Reporting from Madrid. Additional contributions from judicial affairs correspondents and law enforcement policy analysts.
