The Provincial Court of Santa Cruz de Tenerife has sentenced eight people to a cumulative total of 21 years in prison for their involvement in the distribution of cocaine and hashish at a nightclub in La Laguna.
The convicted parties will serve prison terms varying between a minimum of two years and a maximum of three years and two months. In addition to their prison sentences, they have been ordered to pay fines amounting to €19.2 million.
The total value of the confiscated drugs seized from the defendants' residences approached two million euros, and authorities also found €53,000 in cash.
During the trial, the court agreed to suspend the imprisonment of three of the convicted individuals on the condition that they refrain from committing any further crimes over the next three years.
One of the accused owned a nightclub located in the El Púlpito mountain area of La Laguna, where two other defendants were also employed. Since at least August 2022, the establishment was used as a hub for trafficking cocaine and hashish.
Many patrons visited the venue specifically to purchase these substances and either left immediately or stayed on the premises. Additionally, drugs were supplied to women engaged in prostitution at the club.
Two of the defendants regularly transported the drugs to the club based on immediate needs, coordinating via phone. Other members of the group were responsible for distributing the substances within the nightclub.
Police Interventions
On August 9th, a surveillance operation detected an individual carrying one gram of cocaine with an 82% purity, purchased from one of the accused. Police officers entered the seller’s residence and seized €40,000.
In November, another raid was conducted at the residence of one of the defendants in La Laguna, where authorities confiscated 11 grams of cocaine. Shortly thereafter, a subsequent search uncovered significant quantities of hashish of varying purities and over 500 grams of cocaine.
A separate operation in Santa Cruz de Tenerife led to the discovery of several kilograms of cannabis. In another location, occupants were found handling hashish intended for sale, with a total value of €37,000.
Legal Proceedings
Following these investigations, five of the defendants were placed in pre-trial detention until the conclusion of the trial, where they ultimately received their sentences by way of agreement.
This case underscores the ongoing efforts by Spanish authorities to combat drug trafficking within the Canary Islands. The significant prison terms and hefty fines reflect the judiciary's stance on disrupting and penalising organised drug distribution networks.
