The Provincial Court of Las Palmas has sentenced 13 people linked to two criminal groups that operated and introduced cocaine in the Canary Islands. Of those prosecuted, at least six acted in Lanzarote, with four of them residing in Arrecife, while the rest are linked to a second group that operated in Tenerife. The imposed penalties range from two to six years in prison, since some have been convicted of a crime against public health and others also for belonging to a criminal group.
The investigations, which were carried out by the UCO of the Judicial Police of the Civil Guard in Las Palmas, began following the arrest on October 7, 2013 of Jessica Gómez Aranda at the Lanzarote airport. According to the ruling, she acted "as a human courier or 'mule'" and tried to introduce 556 grams of cocaine to the island, with a value in the illicit market of approximately 18,901 euros, and 678.20 euros in cash were also seized. Therefore, Jessica Gómez has been sentenced to three years in prison and the payment of a fine of 18,901 euros for the crime against public health. Likewise, she has been ordered to pay the costs, as have the rest of the defendants.
Along with her, the head of the group that operated in Lanzarote, John Jairo Castillo González, has been convicted, who according to the ruling was the "person in charge of receiving the narcotic substances that human couriers brought to the island." The court has sentenced him to three years and six months in prison for the crime against public health and six more months for being a member of a criminal group. Likewise, a fine of 18,901 euros has been imposed. John Jairo Castillo was arrested on June 11, 2014, carrying 530 euros "resulting from the illicit activity to which he was dedicated." Subsequently, in the search of his home in Arrecife, the agents found "a small plastic bag containing seven grams of cocaine, which amounted to 397.25 euros in the illicit market", as well as "14,100 euros in fractional bills".
Convicted the 'lieutenant' in Lanzarote of the group leader
Another of those convicted who resided in Lanzarote is Offer Loiaza Arango, who according to the ruling was the "person of utmost confidence or 'lieutenant' in Lanzarote" of John Jairo Castillo. He has been sentenced to three years in prison for the crime against public health and six for belonging to a criminal group. Likewise, a fine of 18,901 euros has been imposed. He was arrested on the same day as the head of the organization and in his house in the capital of Lanzarote, the agents found "a bank receipt for cash in the amount of 1,800 euros".
Both John Jairo Castillo and Offer Loiaza formed, together with Helmer Navarro (resident in Tenerife) the group that operated in Lanzarote. Jorge Alejandro Micolta Poveda collaborated with this group, as proven by the Court, who was also based in Arrecife. According to the ruling, "he collaborated with said criminal group mainly through the small-scale distribution of the narcotic substance, cocaine." He has been sentenced to three years in prison and a fine of 18,901 euros for the crime against public health. In his case, after his arrest, the agents found in his home "two precision scales, three notebooks with annotations and various cutting substances not subject to supervision contained in a jar, and in a bag weighing approximately 90 grams of white pills".
The other convicted for his links with this group that operated in Lanzarote is José Miguel Canto Libreros, who had "the functions of carrying out the tasks of mere contact with the buyers", according to the ruling. He, the Court has imposed two years in prison for the crime against public health and a fine of 9,450 euros.
They have accepted the facts and the penalties imposed
The other member of the group that operated in Lanzarote is Jhonattan Alexis Escobar Quintero, although in his case he was arrested in Tenerife. In fact, he was linked to the two organizations, as was Helmer Navarro, for whom he acted as a person "of trust" in Lanzarote. "He collaborated both in the introduction and in the distribution of drugs on the island," the ruling states.
In his case, being also a repeat offender, he has been sentenced to four years and six months in prison and to pay a fine of 46,185 euros for the crime against public health and six months in prison for being a member of a criminal group.
It should be noted that most of those convicted, including all those linked to the Lanzarote network, will not be able to appeal the sentence, since they reached an agreement with the Public Prosecutor's Office, recognizing the facts and accepting the penalties requested for them.
