A Cuban living in Spain faced an unexpected turn of events when he tried to do a good deed by handing over a lost wallet to the police. Known online as Iván el Cubano, he shared his experience in a TikTok video, sparking widespread conversation among the Cuban and Latino communities in Spain.
Iván recounted that after finishing his training session, he discovered a wallet on the ground near the metro exit. The wallet contained no cash but held various identification documents, including a NIE or DNI, a driver’s license, and a disability card. "Being a good Samaritan, I picked it up and thought, wow, this belongs to someone who might have dropped it. Plus, it had a disability card, meaning it's for a disabled person," he explained in the video.
With the intention of swiftly resolving the matter, he decided to take the wallet to a nearby police station. However, what unfolded was far from what he expected.
Upon arrival, the attending officer requested Iván's identification before accepting the wallet and instructed him to wait inside. "I arrived at the police station, handed over the documents, and explained I found them at the metro exit. The officer then asked for my ID," Iván shared.
Then began a nearly two-hour wait inside the station. "I was almost detained, standing there for about two hours just for turning in some documents," he expressed, visibly upset.
He described the incident as humiliating. "In the end, you're just returning or handing over something that was lost, and they treat you like a criminal," he stated.
Understanding Spanish Bureaucracy
What Iván experienced is actually standard procedure in Spain. The Organic Law 4/2015 on Citizen Security allows officers to request identification from anyone within the scope of their duties, even those who voluntarily visit police stations. The routine process for handling lost items with identification involves recording the finder's details, which requires their identification.
For those unfamiliar with the system, this process can be surprising and intimidating, much like what happened to this Cuban who came to Spain seeking a better future and instead encountered unexpected bureaucracy.
The Struggles of Integration
Iván's story is not unique. Many Cubans residing in Spain, especially in Madrid, share their encounters with institutional procedures on social media, illustrating the integration challenges many migrants face. Another Cuban shared her tiresome and bewildering experience in obtaining a criminal record in Spain.
Iván concluded his video with a "moral" that drew 208 comments: "If you find someone's documents here in Spain, either mail them or throw them away, but don't give them to the police, or you'll be stopped and treated poorly as if you were a criminal."
It is worth mentioning that dropping found documents in a mailbox for handling is, indeed, an informal yet valid method in Spain to return them without visiting the police. However, discarding them in the trash could lead to legal repercussions.
FAQs about Spanish Police Procedures and Lost Property
What should you do if you find a lost item in Spain?
You can either take the item to a nearby police station or place it in a mailbox for processing. Both methods are recognized, although handing it to the police may involve providing your identification.
Why did the police ask for Iván's identification?
Spanish law allows officers to request identification from individuals as part of their duties, including those who voluntarily appear at police stations. This is standard protocol when dealing with lost items containing identification documents.
Is it legal to throw away found documents in Spain?
No, discarding found documents could lead to legal consequences. It's advisable to return them either to the police or via a mailbox to ensure proper handling.