A criminal gang involved in drug trafficking has been dismantled in La Orotava, with charges against 64 individuals connected to the case, according to a ruling from the Provincial Court of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. About 20 suspects have appealed against the continuation of the summary proceedings.
The investigation, which began in 2016 and concluded in March 2018, led to multiple arrests as the group operated illegally across ports and airports in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, La Palma, and Gran Canaria. They were reportedly involved in transactions worth up to €265,000, with two individuals apprehended while in possession of five kilos of drugs with a purity of 67%.
Following the identification of the initial 55 suspects, a court in La Laguna initiated the criminal proceedings, ultimately expanding the number of accused to 64. The gang was found to utilise maritime routes to transport drugs from South America, employing stevedoring companies and collaborating with various accomplices to smuggle narcotics out of ports.
Significant seizures included 170 kilograms of drugs with a 77% purity, intercepted in a truck at Las Palmas port in July 2017, with an estimated value exceeding €6 million.
The court dismissed the defendants’ claims of material defenselessness, noting they had access to case documents, could propose evidence, and had opportunities to defend themselves in court. Proceedings are set to continue, with lawyers expected to submit counterarguments against the proposed sentences of up to 14 years for some defendants, along with substantial financial penalties. The judge will ultimately decide whether to proceed to trial.
