The Civil Guard, within the framework of Operation "Tamboril", has arrested 12 people belonging to a criminal organization, led by members of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang, allegedly dedicated to drug trafficking. 9 house searches have been carried out, three of which were used as "24-hour" drug sales points.
The operation began when the Civil Guard became aware of the existence of several drug sales points that were allegedly controlled by members of the Hells Angels gang, and that were being used as a source of financing to be able to finance other criminal activities. Continuing with the investigations, the agents were able to verify that the top leader was a member with a position of responsibility belonging to the Canary Islands chapter of the motorcycle group "outside the law" or "1%".
Likewise, the agents were able to find out, as a result of a homicide that occurred due to a settling of accounts allegedly between one of the gang members and a consumer, in the town of Gáldar, that the apartments used as drug sales points had rooms enabled for the consumption of the substances obtained there, in order for it to be carried out inside the same facilities to hinder its detection and prosecution.
Hell Angels Canary Islands Structure
The criminal organization was structured following a hierarchical and pyramidal scheme, being able to find at the top full members of Hell Angels Canary Islands, who were in charge of supervising and controlling drug sales operations, even using extreme violence on those occasions when they deemed it necessary.
On the next step were the "supporters", individuals who, even without being considered members of the gang, are linked to it, accepting their instructions and showing a loyal affinity towards them.
As the last step, the sellers and receptionists of the different points of sale are located, normally people with problems of addiction and dependence on narcotic substances. These personal circumstances of vulnerability were often used by the organization to control these individuals and force them to carry out drug sales work.
Physical punishments and threats
Physical punishments or threats to families were routinely used by the leaders of the organization, even to the point where sellers were detained and locked up against their will, only being released to carry out their drug sales shift.
The operation has been carried out by the Information Group of the Civil Guard Command of Las Palmas, with the support of the Canary Islands Information Section and the Information Headquarters (UCE3) and has had the collaboration of the Reserve and Security Group (GRS), Citizen Security Units of the Commands of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas, and the Cynological Service and directed by the Court of First Instance and Instruction No. 2 of Santa María de Guía de Gran Canaria.
