A joint operation between the Guardia Civil and the National Police has resulted in the arrest of nine people involved in drug trafficking across the Canary Islands. The detainees, of Spanish and Nigerian nationalities and with previous criminal records, were smuggling significant quantities of drugs into Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura using human couriers, also known as "mules", who carried the narcotics either internally or hidden in luggage.
Authorities confirmed that these individuals were involved in transporting large amounts of cocaine and heroin. The operation also uncovered other illicit substances, with the drugs concealed inside human bodies or within specially modified suitcases and backpacks, making detection more difficult.
Following extensive surveillance and investigations, the police carried out ten searches across various residences in Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura. These searches led to the seizure of a total of 7.5 kilograms of heroin, 29 kilograms of cocaine, 100 grams of hashish, 20 grams of methamphetamine, and 1.5 kilograms of cutting agents used to dilute the drugs.
Additionally, more than €70,000 in cash, believed to be linked to the drug sales, as well as four vehicles and 14 mobile devices, were confiscated.
The operation, coordinated by the Las Palmas Organised Crime and Anti-Drug Team (EDOA) of the Guardia Civil's Judicial Police Unit (UOPJ) alongside the National Police’s Drug and Organised Crime Unit (UDYCO), began in early 2023.
Overseen by the Court of Instruction No. 3 of Las Palmas, the investigation marks a significant blow to drug trafficking networks in the region. Six of the arrested individuals have been remanded in provisional custody as the case progresses.
