Santa Cruz de Tenerife 26 Feb. (Europa Press) –
Agents from the National Police, under the direction and coordination of the Tenerife Prosecutor, have been conducting an extensive investigation across the national territory.
Through various monitoring and surveillance operations on the members of this group, the officers noted a distinct division of roles: some carried out thefts, while others kept watch for security forces or acted as lookouts.
Furthermore, due to the diligent efforts of the investigators, the two leaders of the organisation who coordinated the rest of the members were identified, with a significant number of offences against property being attributed to them.
The criminal syndicate operated across the island in small clusters of three or four individuals, where only one person was engaged in the theft itself, another identified potential targets, and a third maintained surveillance to avert police intervention.
Their primary focus was on elderly individuals and foreign visitors, taking advantage of their brief stays on the island, which reduced the likelihood of making a report. This was evidenced by the fact that during the arrests, several members of the criminal group were found with tickets from various countries including England, Denmark, and Sweden, as reported by the National Police.
In addition, the group exhibited a marked seasonal pattern, conducting their operations in Tenerife during the winter months and relocating to the mainland during warmer periods, as they also had significant histories in the provinces of Malaga and Mallorca.
The investigators were able to observe the transfer of substantial sums of money abroad through companies that provide such services, with the total amount sent reaching up to 250,000 euros.
Consequently, after collecting all relevant evidence, a raid was executed at one of the residences where several members of this group resided, resulting in the arrest of seven individuals.
Similarly, several officers apprehended the remaining six members in the municipality of Güimar, bringing the total number of detainees to 13.
Upon their appearance in court, it was ordered that nine of them be held in provisional custody, marking the first instance of preventive detention for an organised group engaged in theft within the archipelago.
Thus, the main structure of the organisation is deemed dismantled, though further arrests may follow.
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