Beginning next week, and spanning a period of nine days, the Provincial Court of Santa Cruz de Tenerife will conduct a significant trial concerning drug trafficking. The Public Prosecutor’s Office is seeking collective prison sentences totalling 123 years for 15 individuals, alongside fines amounting to 1.7 million euros in reparations.
The allegations encompass drug trafficking, participation in an organised crime group, money laundering, and document falsification.
The primary defendant is said to be the individual responsible for procuring various narcotic substances, which he distributed among members of two groups: the first group consisting of four individuals, and the second comprising the remaining 11. According to the Prosecutor’s Office, he occupied a “privileged” position within these organisations.
It appears that this defendant undertook numerous trips beyond the island, while also maintaining local suppliers with whom he had extensive connections, particularly with the other three members of his group.
The Prosecutor’s Office asserts that, even during the state of emergency imposed by the pandemic, he managed to continue his activities through alternative methods to circumvent law enforcement, and at other times relied on conventional means, including frequent phone communications.
His role was meant to be administrative; however, he allegedly neglected these duties due to the high income generated from drug trafficking.
During a search of his residence, authorities seized two computers, eight mobile phones, six luxury watches, nearly 11,000 euros in cash, and a weighing scale. Additionally, 15,500 euros were located at his mother’s residence, an amount that was also present in her bank account.
“Defendant number two” is reported to have been involved in the illicit operations alongside her partner, “defendant number three.” In tandem with her cousin, they communicated through coded language to avoid any direct references to drugs.
The woman acted as a transport agent in collaboration with her cousin, and it was noted on one occasion that she was carrying 100 grams of cocaine, which she discarded from her vehicle and was unable to retrieve.
A search of “number two’s” residence uncovered just over 300 grams of cocaine valued at approximately 21,000 euros, with varying purity levels.
At “number four’s” address, approximately 15 grams of cocaine, some cash, and two firearms were discovered. Two of the accused were found at their residence with drugs valued at 92,000 euros, including different amounts of hashish and cocaine, along with nearly 19,000 euros in cash.
In another instance, 1,200 euros were seized, and in yet another case, the sum amounted to 39,000 euros.
In the remaining addresses searched, the total value of substances confiscated approached 1,300 euros, which included MDMA, gold, cocaine, and hashish, totalling 41,000 euros, thus bringing the cumulative total to 105,030 euros.
