A Spanish clergyman has been apprehended on suspicion of illicitly trading Viagra from his residence.

The priest was detained in Don Benito, situated in the western province of Badajoz near Spain’s border with Portugal.

Law enforcement arrested the individual at a rectory where he resided with a man identified as his partner, who was also taken into custody following a property search.

Both individuals faced a court appearance on Tuesday, undergoing questioning by an investigating magistrate for over four hours.

The priest, identified as Alfonso Raul Masa Soto, was released on bail and mandated to regularly appear at a local court.

Meanwhile, the partner, whose identity remains undisclosed, was incarcerated pending an ongoing criminal inquiry, Metro reported.

The arrests transpired on Monday following a prolonged investigation by the Civil Guard. Viagra, along with other substances categorized as ‘powerful aphrodisiacs,’ was reportedly discovered within the rectory.

The Diocese of Plasencia, to which Don Benito belongs, expressed regret over the priest’s detention, acknowledging the associated ‘pain and suffering.’

A regional spokesperson for the central government confirmed the two arrests without providing further details.

The detained priest is described locally as a ‘very popular’ figure.

Written by B.C. Begley