Santa Cruz de Tenerife 6 Feb. (Europa Press) –
The Civil Guard has apprehended a 46-year-old individual in the municipality of Arona, alleged to have committed three violent robberies involving intimidation, taking place in southern Tenerife between May and November 2024. During these incidents, he reportedly employed firearms and chemical agents to incapacitate his victims.
The operation by the Civil Guard, named Tamaide-TF, was initiated after a consistent criminal pattern was identified, involving a lone male offender utilising a short firearm and, in certain instances, chemicals to physically dominate the victims, as detailed by the security agency in a statement.
The detained individual executed a robbery at a pharmacy in Arico in May. He entered the premises with his face concealed and wielding a firearm, demanding controlled substances such as Travelimazin and Lorazepam.
In a burglary that occurred at a residence in San Miguel de Abona in September 2024, he entered while masked, having disabled security systems, and violently coerced the residents into consuming sedative drugs before binding and gagging them, from which he stole cash and hunting weapons.
Another incident linked to this individual was a violent robbery at a guide home in Isora in November 2024. In this case, after disabling the safety measures of the house and incapacitating the resident’s dogs with a spray, he was confronted by the victims, whom he threatened with a weapon, leading to a physical altercation that resulted in injuries.
Search of Vehicle and Home
He ultimately fled the scene with a .22 calibre shotgun. The apprehension took place on 24 January 2025 at the suspect’s residence in Arona. During the search of his vehicle and home, authorities discovered firearms, knives, tools, disguises, clothing, and other items linking the detainee to the crimes under investigation.
The inquiry, supported by the Local Police of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, enabled authorities to clarify the suspect’s modus operandi, which involved the use of false identities and prior reconnaissance of his targets. Furthermore, investigators identified connections between the pharmaceuticals stolen from the pharmacy and those used to incapacitate victims during home invasions.
The detainee has been presented before the Courts of Arona, resulting in an order for provisional incarceration. The investigation has been conducted by the Territorial Judicial Police team of Playa de las Américas, part of the Organic Judicial Police Unit of the Civil Guard in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
