Police in Tenerife have arrested six people and seized 13 tonnes of laughing gas in a major operation against drug trafficking in the Canary Islands. The seizure is the second largest of nitrous oxide in Europe.
Operation 'Centro' targets drug network
Six other individuals are being investigated for belonging to a criminal organisation, drug trafficking and money laundering, according to the Guardia Civil. The operation, named 'Centro', began when officers became aware of laughing gas consumption in leisure areas in the south of the island, a region popular with British tourists.
The investigation uncovered a hierarchical criminal organisation with a family-run management team, a logistics branch receiving merchandise from abroad, and a section for final distribution on the island.
Searches and seizures
The Guardia Civil carried out four searches in the municipalities of Arona, Adeje and Granadilla de Abona. During these searches, officers seized 10,394 containers of nitrous oxide weighing almost 13,000 kg.
They also found €63,500 and £1,000 in cash, approximately 213 grams of cocaine, 599 grams of hashish, 1.4 kg of marijuana and 46 grams of the substance known as "Tusi" (a mixture of different psychoactive substances). Other narcotic substances, including pills, mushrooms, capsules and edible preparations with cannabinoids, were also uncovered. Numerous weapons were seized, including five simulated firearms and several axes.
Investigation ongoing
A spokesperson for the Guardia Civil said: "The investigation remains open and further arrests are possible." They added: "The operation was carried out by the Investigation Unit of the Playa de las Américas Police Station under the direction of the Arona Court of First Instance and at the request of the Arona Anti-Drug Prosecutor's Office."
