Spanish authorities have dismantled a significant drug network that targeted British tourists in the Canary Islands. Street vendors posing as dealers were caught selling crack cocaine, ecstasy, ketamine, and designer drugs to vacationers.
During a large-scale operation, 55 individuals were captured at various locations in Tenerife, a popular destination for British visitors. The crackdown was a joint effort between National Police and local law enforcement.
The crackdown was initiated after authorities discovered a tactic used by the traffickers, who pretended to sell items like sunglasses and watches while hiding illegal substances in public areas to avoid detection with drugs in their possession.
A specific focus was placed on monitoring the Las Veronicas strip in Playa de las Americas, where a British teenager tragically passed away in June 2024 after reportedly consuming cocaine, ecstasy, and ketamine.
All 55 men arrested in Tenerife for allegedly selling drugs to tourists, ranging in age from 25 to 40, had prior convictions related to drug offenses. The arrests occurred between April and July in tourist-heavy areas.
The investigation successfully removed various drugs from circulation, including crack, MDMA, cocaine, ketamine, ecstasy, hashish, and marijuana. Spanish authorities emphasized that the dealers mainly targeted young British vacationers at beaches and popular party spots, with additional arrests made along the Fañabé seafront and Avenida España in Tenerife.
The operation’s goal was to protect residents, tourists, and the Canary Islands’ reputation as a safe destination for British holidaymakers.