A British couple have been arrested in Spain after their six-month-old baby reportedly tested positive for cocaine, prompting authorities to place all three of their children under temporary social services care.
According to reports by the Mail Online, the couple had allegedly left their three young children alone in a hotel room in the Costa del Sol resort town of Benalmádena while they went out partying.
The children involved include a six-month-old baby, a two-year-old toddler and a four-year-old child.
The shocking case came to light after concerns were raised about the welfare of the children, leading to intervention by local authorities.
Sources familiar with the ongoing investigation described the conditions in which the children were found as “worrying.”
According to the reports, the hotel room was in a state of disorder, while the eldest child, believed to be just four years old, was allegedly left to care for the younger siblings.
Medical examinations later revealed that the six-month-old baby had tested positive for cocaine.
Following the discovery, the regional government of Andalusia, through its child protection services, assumed temporary custody of the children.
The siblings were subsequently taken to Málaga’s Materno Infantil Hospital for medical evaluations and further checks.
Authorities have not disclosed how the infant may have been exposed to the substance.
It also remains unclear whether police officers arrested the parents upon their return to the hotel or tracked them down while they were still out.
Officials have not released the identities of the couple, and the hotel where the family had been staying has not been publicly named.
The case has sparked concern in Spain and the United Kingdom, with investigations continuing into the circumstances surrounding the alleged neglect and the baby’s positive drug test.
Spanish authorities are expected to determine the next legal steps regarding the parents, while social services assess the welfare needs of the three children.
As of the time of filing this report, no formal charges had been publicly announced, and the investigation remains ongoing.
