The Environmental Unit of Telde's Local Police (UMAT) has identified the person responsible for illegally dumping construction waste in the Barranco Real, a ravine located in the municipality. The act, which involved nearly five tonnes of debris, has been classified as a serious environmental offence.
According to a statement released by Telde Town Hall, the perpetrator is a self-employed builder, officially registered in Gran Canaria. The first illegal dumping involved 80 sacks of building rubble, followed the next day by a second deposit of 60 sacks.
In response to the seriousness of the offences, UMAT launched a surveillance operation that led to the interception of the suspect’s van after 24 hours of monitoring. The vehicle was stopped in La Garita, just as he was about to dump more bags of rubbish. Two men were found inside the van, which contained 30 sacks of debris matching those previously discovered in the ravine.
Officers ordered them to immediately remove all dumped material and deliver it to a licensed waste management facility. This effort to rectify the environmental damage will also be considered as a mitigating factor when the administrative penalty is assessed.
UMAT has proposed a sanction for a “serious environmental violation” to the Island Water Council, the authority responsible for managing the area’s ravines. In addition, the case has been referred to the Labour and Social Security Inspectorate.
Current regulations classify environmental offences into three categories:
· Minor infringements, which can incur fines of up to €750;
· Serious infringements, with penalties ranging from €1,001 to €50,000;
· Very serious offences, which carry fines from €50,001 to €2 million.
The total weight of the removed material amounted to 4,850 kilograms. It was subsequently delivered to an authorised recycling centre at a disposal cost of €51, in accordance with standard rates.
Telde Town Hall expressed its gratitude to UMAT for its swift and effective intervention and acknowledged the importance of public cooperation in protecting the municipality’s natural environment.
