Dismantled one of the main criminal networks dedicated to drug trafficking between the peninsula and the Canary Islands

12 people have been arrested and 54 kilos of cocaine and five vehicles modified with false bottoms to hide the narcotics have been seized

The network was made up of two independent criminal organizations, one on the peninsula in charge of the acquisition and transport to the Canary Islands, and another in the archipelago specializing in the distribution

Agents of the Spanish Civil Guard, in a joint operation with the National Police, have dismantled a criminal organization formed by a family clan of Colombian origin dedicated to drug trafficking between the peninsula and the Canary Islands.

The investigation began in April 2022 when the agents detected the return to criminal activity of this network with a history of similar events. They organized shipments of cocaine from South America to different airports on the peninsula through human couriers.

Once the organization had the substance at the main airports, it was distributed throughout the national territory. For transport to the Canary Islands, they used another group originating in the Islands and whose main members were settled on the island of Gran Canaria.

This second organization, to carry out the transport of the substances to the Canary Islands, used both human couriers by air, as well as modified vehicles with cavities manufactured to hide the substance. This made it possible to travel by sea between the peninsula and the islands, reaching more than 30 vehicles at the disposal of the criminal network.

As a result of the investigation work, during the months of June and July, the first two interventions were carried out in which more than 5 and 12 kilograms of cocaine were seized in Gran Canaria and Tenerife respectively. In these actions, two of the main members of the network and a historic drug trafficker from Tenerife were arrested.

Other interventions were made at the beginning of December with the arrest at the Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas airport of two people who acted as human couriers carrying more than 17 and 4 kilograms of high-purity cocaine, the first upon arrival from South America and the second when he was preparing to travel to the Canary Islands.

In the month of January 2023, the fifth and last intervention was carried out, this time at the La Luz dock in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, where more than 14 kilograms of cocaine were seized that one of the members was transporting by sea from Huelva. of the organization, hidden in a vehicle.

As a direct consequence of this action, the operation was exploited with seven registrations in the provinces of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Madrid, Toledo and Malaga.

Both organizations have been dismantled with a total of 12 detainees and the intervention of 54 kilograms of cocaine, five modified vehicles with cavities prepared for the transport of substances and more than 75,000 euros in cash. 

The investigation was carried out by agents of the Organized Crime and Anti-Drug Team (EDOA) of the Organic Unit of the Judicial Police of the Civil Guard of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Group 41 of the Central Narcotics Brigade of the National Police Corps and the Drug and Organized Crime Unit (UDYCO), under the protection of the Investigating Court No. 4 of Granadilla de Abona in coordination with the Special Anti-Drug Prosecutor of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.