In a high-profile operation on the Canary Islands, investigators seized a ton of cocaine of the highest purity from a luxury chalet in Tenerife. This marked the largest takedown of a Spanish crime syndicate on the islands. In total, nine individuals were detained, seven of whom were confirmed members of the organization. Authorities also captured a prominent Colombian drug trafficker who acted as a notary for the origin network and an Italian national linked to the country’s mafia, who was attempting to establish new distribution channels in Spain. The operation yielded eight wiretaps or recordings across Tenerife, Lanzarote, Málaga, and Seville, along with nine vehicles, twelve thousand euros in cash, a money-counting machine, signal jammers, tracking devices, a drone, and an arsenal of edged weapons.
The investigation began several months earlier after agents uncovered a Spain-centered organization involved in distributing cocaine shipments connected to South America, with branches in Málaga, Seville, and the islands of Lanzarote and Tenerife.
Vehicle with 100 kilos of cocaine in its trunk
Law enforcement noted a surge in the organization’s activity as key members met with associates from Málaga. A rental vehicle was observed entering a guarded residence, accompanied by a high-end counter-surveillance car. Suspecting narcotics transport, officers halted the vehicle. The drivers attempted to flee and offered stiff resistance, but the pursuit ended with their detention. A search of the car trunk uncovered four sports bags containing 100 kilograms of cocaine. Minutes later, leaders of the network were arrested following the discovery.
950 kilos of cocaine in a luxury chalet
Concurrently, authorities carried out a search of the luxury chalet in Barranco Hondo, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, where 100 kilograms of cocaine were found loaded and two individuals guarding 950 kilograms of cocaine were detained. Entry into the property required intervention by GOES due to the perceived danger posed by the suspects.
Subsequent operations conducted across Tenerife, Lanzarote, Málaga, and Seville led to eight additional searches, resulting in the seizure of nine vehicles, twelve thousand euros in cash, a money-counting machine, frequency jammers, location devices, a drone, and weapons consistent with edged combat gear.
Although the investigation team faced efforts to evade justice, the seven core members of the organization were ultimately apprehended. A Colombian trafficker, who had recently traveled to Tenerife as a notary for the organization to coordinate cocaine distribution and collect payments, was also arrested. An Italian citizen with ties to the Italian mafia, who had moved to Spain to expand market reach, was taken into custody as part of the operation. The combined actions led to the dismantling of the organization and the recovery of a historic cache, representing the most significant seizure on the Canary Islands to date. All nine detainees were remanded to custody.