News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Spanish police have been forced into an embarrassing apology after tweeting advice on how to best smuggle drugs onto a plane.

The Policia Nacional's offical account was asked by a magazine about getting four cannabis joints onto a flight into a foreign country.

JotDown magazine tweeted the tongue-in-cheek question asking whether the drugs were better off being carried in hand luggage or in a checked-in suitcase.

Incredibly, the police replied: "It's better if you have them rolled up and where the dogs can't detect them (in a cigarette packet?)"

The only warning offered was: "You do risk a report for public consumption."

The tweet sparked outrage from anti-drugs campaigners, who suggested police were officially encouraging cannabis smokers to try and smuggle drugs abroad.

The post was later deleted and replaced with a more lecturing message.

"To avoid confusion, the possession or consumption of drugs in public places carries an administrative penalty," it stated.

The National Police later apologised for the tweet, saying it was an "error" that had been "rectified immediately" because the message was "confused."

Carlos Fernandez, who runs the official police account, later tweeted via his own personal handle that there had been an "awkward failing."