Operation Silbo: Five Individuals Granted Provisional Detention
Five out of six individuals currently under investigation in the Silbo operation have been remanded in custody, while the sixth has been released under precautionary measures.
Investigation Background
The events began a few days ago when the Guardia Civil deployed several officers in response to suspicions that an organisation based in Santa Cruz de Tenerife was allegedly involved in drug trafficking.
Status of the Investigation
At present, a total of 18 individuals are in custody. One person is currently wanted by authorities, while another has been released without any restrictions. These individuals are under scrutiny as potential perpetrators of crimes against public health, money laundering, and membership in a criminal organisation. The majority of those under investigation are Canary Islanders (21), but there are also two South Americans, three individuals from the Spanish mainland, one from North Africa, and one from Eastern Europe.
Precautionary Measures
Precautionary measures imposed include the confiscation of passports and travel bans, as reported by the High Court of Justice of the Canary Islands (TSJC) on Saturday. Among those detained are said to be a hotelier, a lawyer, and a tax advisor, according to local media, which also noted arrests took place not only in Santa Cruz de Tenerife but also in La Gomera and Galicia.
The operation, dubbed Silbo, commenced in the early hours of Wednesday with a significant police presence, including a helicopter, and involved searches of various properties in the Tenerife capital conducted by the Guardia Civil and the Customs office of the Tax Agency.
