Four people have been arrested after police seized 20 kilograms of heroin from a hotel in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, in what is believed to be one of the largest heroin hauls ever recorded in the Canary Islands.

The National Police arrested two married couples of Ecuadorian origin following a lengthy investigation led by the Central Drugs and Organised Crime Unit. The suspects were detained at a hotel on Albareda Street, where officers allegedly discovered the drugs.

Investigators believe the seizure could be the second largest heroin haul in the history of the Canary Islands. The operation remains under judicial secrecy, with the investigation continuing under the direction of the National Court.

Police have not released further details about the suspected criminal network, the legal status of those arrested, or the intended destination of the drugs. Officers have not ruled out further arrests as enquiries continue.

The seizure is considered particularly serious because heroin is rarely found in such large quantities in the Canary Islands. Authorities say the operation represents a major blow to organised crime groups involved in drug trafficking across the archipelago.

The largest heroin seizure recorded in the Canary Islands took place in January 2023, when police dismantled a criminal network operating between Amsterdam and Gran Canaria. That operation resulted in the seizure of 23 kilograms of heroin, along with more than 13,000 ecstasy tablets, over 5,000 doses of cocaine and two kilograms of hashish, leading to the arrest of nine people.