Police Crackdown on N2O Sales at Tenerife Pub
Police in Santa Cruz de Tenerife have arrested two individuals for allegedly violating public health laws at a pub in the Las Verónicas entertainment area.
The arrests occurred in the early hours of June 7 when an officer on duty spotted a staff member leaving the venue with a bottle of nitrous oxide, commonly known as “laughing gas,” along with the equipment for its recreational use.
Following this observation, police inspected the premises and discovered a locked storage room, accessible only to staff. Inside, they found numerous boxes containing nitrous oxide bottles and canisters, including 91 large cylinders (670 grams each), 384 smaller cartridges (7.5 grams each), and 96 bags with 100 balloons each. Additionally, they found siphons for dispensing the gas.
Further searches revealed similar items on tables in the dance area, the pub’s terrace, and in the restrooms, along with empty containers discarded in bins.
Local police from Arona were called in to investigate, leading to the issuance of administrative penalties related to classified activities.
Nitrous oxide has gained popularity among young people in recent years, posing serious health risks. The national police highlighted dangers such as dizziness and loss of balance, which can result in falls, injuries, and even asphyxiation or neurological damage.
As a consequence of the findings, one employee and the pub’s manager were arrested for selling the substance for recreational use. The manager was found with €975 in cash and has a history of similar offences.
