Two Irish nationals are set to face trial next week in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, accused of trafficking the drug ketamine. The Santa Cruz Prosecutor’s Office has requested a sentence of two years and three months in prison for each, alongside a relatively small fine of 89 euros. This fine amount has surprised many, given the charges involved.
The incident centres around an exchange where one of the two men allegedly sold 0.5 grams of ketamine to the other for 24 euros. Upon arrest, the buyer was found with just over 1 gram of ketamine worth 66 euros.
Even though this is a small amount, it is the fact that they were caught in the act buying and selling the drug that has led to the requested prison time.
The trial is scheduled to take place next week at the Provincial Court of Santa Cruz in Tenerife.
Ketamine is an anaesthetic commonly used in both medical and veterinary settings. However, in the recreational drug scene, it is often misused for its dissociative effects.
According to the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), prolonged ketamine use can cause serious health issues such as bladder damage, memory loss, and psychiatric conditions like anxiety and paranoia.
In Spain, the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS) warns that ketamine abuse carries a high risk of dependence and neurotoxic effects, making its recreational use especially dangerous.
