The Civil Guard and the Tax Agency, with support from Europol, the DEA, and the Judicial Police of Cape Verde, have dealt a significant blow to drug trafficking centred in the Canary Islands. The operation, known as SILBO, has resulted in the arrest of 34 individuals and the seizure of 2,185 kilos of cocaine, alongside modified firearms, five vessels, 16 vehicles, and over €600,000 in cash.
The operation, conducted after two years of investigation, involved nearly 40 searches across various Spanish provinces, including Lanzarote, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, La Gomera, and Fuerteventura. The criminal network was led by a 42-year-old businessman from Tenerife, with interests in leisure, catering, and construction, who used these ventures as a cover to introduce large shipments of drugs into the archipelago and launder profits through both national and foreign companies.
The organisation received cocaine shipments from mother ships arriving from South America. In 2024 alone, 500 kilos were intercepted in January and 1,600 kilos in November, destined for Tenerife. Furthermore, the investigation uncovered connections with British networks for smuggling hashish from Morocco to the United Kingdom, as well as meetings on the Costa del Sol to negotiate international operations.
Clandestine Laboratory in Tenerife
One of the most significant discoveries was a cocaine processing and cutting laboratory in El Escobonal (Tenerife), where highly toxic chemicals and materials for adulterating drugs were stored.
The network included members of Cuban and Colombian descent with military training, responsible for carrying out violent actions, such as kidnappings and pressure tactics to seize land in Candelaria.
Investigators also uncovered plans to acquire firearms on the mainland and to provide military training to its members.
The operation has ultimately led to the seizure of assets worth over two million euros, including properties and fishing assets connected to the network. The businessman even employed a car rental company to distribute the drugs, concealing shipments within sophisticated hydraulic systems.
Lanzarote, a Key Player in the Operation
Key actions of the investigation also took place on our island, highlighting the archipelago’s strategic importance in international drug trafficking routes.
The operation was led by the Investigating Court No. 3 of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and is part of the European GDIN project to combat international drug trafficking.
