The National Police have dismantled a criminal organisation in Lanzarote responsible for smuggling large quantities of drugs through the island's coasts, leading to the arrest of nine people. This operation has concluded with three arrests in July after six people were initially arrested in March.
The investigation began in mid-2023 after police received multiple reports claiming that a criminal group was trafficking significant amounts of drugs into Lanzarote via the Órzola coast. Investigations confirmed that the organisation included a local fisherman, who used his maritime knowledge and boats to meet with drug smugglers at sea and then transport the drugs back to the coast.
Upon reaching the shores of Órzola, the drugs were unloaded and hidden by other gang members in various residences. The suspects drew attention to themselves due to their luxurious lifestyles, despite lacking visible means of legitimate income.
In the first phase of "Operation Órzola" in March, the police arrested six people, five men and one woman, and conducted eight home searches in Arrecife, Órzola, Tinajo, and Teguise. They seized one kilogram of cocaine, 315 kilograms of hashish, €63,000 in cash, nine vehicles, two boats, and two jet skis. Five of the six detainees were immediately remanded in custody by the judicial authority.
The subsequent phases of the operation has seen the arrest of three more people and two further home searches, resulting in the confiscation of 169 grams of cocaine, 56 kilograms of hashish, and over €10,000 in cash. The latest detainees have also been presented before the judicial authority, which ordered the imprisonment of two of them.
This successful operation highlights the commitment of the National Police to combat organised crime and drug trafficking in the Canary Islands, ensuring that those involved in such illegal activities are brought to justice.
