Agents from the National Police, as part of an investigation led and coordinated by the Tenerife Prosecutor’s Office, have uncovered a criminal operation across national territory.
Following extensive monitoring and surveillance of the individuals in this group, officers managed to detect a distinct division of roles, where some engaged in thefts, while others monitored law enforcement or drove vehicles.
Furthermore, through diligent investigative efforts, officers identified the two leaders of the organisation who coordinated the activities of a sizeable number of crimes against property.
This criminal syndicate operated across the island in small factions of three or four thieves, within which only one individual was tasked with the act of theft while another selected targets, and a third conducted surveillance to evade police intervention.
Their primary focus was on elderly individuals and foreign nationals, taking advantage of their brief stays on the island, which made it less likely for them to report the incidents. This was further evidenced by the fact that upon the arrests, several members of the criminal gang were found in possession of tickets from various countries including England, Denmark, and Sweden, according to a statement from the National Police.
Additionally, the group exhibited a strong seasonal pattern, operating in Tenerife during winter months and on the mainland in warmer seasons, with a history of activity also noted in the provinces of Málaga and Mallorca.
Investigators observed that significant amounts of money were being transferred abroad through companies that specialised in such services, with the total sum sent amounting to 250,000 euros.
Consequently, after gathering sufficient evidence, a search and seizure was conducted at one of the residences where several group members resided, leading to the arrest of seven individuals.
In addition, a number of officers apprehended the remaining six members in the municipality of Güimar, resulting in a total of 13 arrests.
Following their appearance in court, it was decided that nine of the suspects would be held in provisional custody, marking the first instance of preventive detention for an organised group involved in theft within the archipelago.
Thus, the core structure of the organisation is deemed dismantled, although further arrests may still occur.
