The Second Section of the Provincial Court of Las Palmas will judge from Monday of next week an organized gang, accused of introducing 157,330 kilograms of cocaine in Lanzarote.
The defendants, a total of 17 people, allegedly planned the transport by sea of this narcotic substance from South America to the island of Lanzarote, with a sailboat that landed in the port of La Marina. Thus, they would have later sold it to a nightlife businessman from Lanzarote.
Penalties requested by the Prosecutor's Office
The Prosecutor's Office charges them with two crimes against public health in the form of a substance that causes serious damage. Seven of the investigated, accused of introducing the drug, transporting it, moving the illicit money and distributing the cocaine throughout the island, face a fine of 17 million euros each, and a prison sentence of 13 years and three months.
Likewise, the Public Ministry asks for the seven men who allegedly mobilized the illicit money to take it out of Lanzarote a total of six years in prison each, special disqualification from passive suffrage as well as two fines of five million euros each.
Finally, the three defendants accused of buying the substance and transferring it to an island entertainment venue face fines of 22 million euros and a sentence of eight years and six months in prison.
The police investigations took place between December 2016 and April 2017. At that time, the Organized Crime Team (ECO) of the Judicial Police of Las Palmas, learned of the existence of a group of people who were dedicated to introducing cocaine on the island, obtaining with it "an important" economic benefit.
The roles of the gang
On November 27, 2016, a sailboat arrived at the port of La Marina with the cocaine. J.D.B. is accused as the captain of the ship that transported the 157 kilos of drugs. However, the narcotic substance was not seized by a police operation until April 2017 in a nightclub located on the esplanade of the Biosfera in Arrecife. This is why the owner of that entertainment venue, P.F.C., is also indicated.
The indictment of the Public Prosecutor indicates that E.A. was directing the operation from Lanzarote. He would have been in charge of acquiring the drug, organizing its transport, as well as distributing it throughout the island. Along with this defendant would be a second person J.F., who could have helped him in the management. However, the Prosecutor's Office does not bring charges against J.F. because he is in a situation of International Search and Capture.
Along with the one who managed the operation, the Public Ministry also accuses R.R.A and R.A, father and son, who helped the alleged organizer in the collection and sending of money.
The police investigation differentiated three structures in the organization of the gang:
On the one hand, J.A., known as El Viejo, V.G., alias El Bajito, and D.S. would be the ones who immediately acquired the drug once it arrived at the port. According to the Prosecutor's Office, the manager of the idea, E.A. would have helped these three people to pay the captain of the ship for bringing the cocaine to the island. After that, they had to distribute the substance throughout the Archipelago and take the money out of Lanzarote.
The captain of the sailboat, from Seville, was assisted by El Viejo, El Bajito, D.S. and the ideologue of the plan E.A. to move the money obtained illicitly out of the island. To do this, the captain of the ship contacted seven people, including family and friends, who traveled to Gran Canaria or Lanzarote to take out that cash, knowing the origin of the money.
In the end, the drug was acquired by P.F., known as El Jefe del Gordo, a well-known nightlife businessman from Lanzarote. To reach that point, the Prosecutor's Office considers the "intermediation" of J.F, alias El Gordo, with those who had managed the sending of money outside the island El Viejo, El Bajito and by order of the one who planned the entire operation E.A. to be "essential".
After this agreement, on April 2, 2017, the 157,330 kilograms of cocaine were transferred in a garage of the Siglo XXI building on Manolo Millares street in Arrecife to a Jeep Grand Cherokee in six boxes. At that time, El Jefe del Gordo and C.P.V took the drug out of the place transporting it to the Living nightclub, located on the esplanade of the Cabildo. The next day, during a police raid held in the aforementioned nightclub, the drug was seized, which reached the value of 5,672,218.49 euros.
After several searches authorized by the Investigating Court number 4 in the homes of the investigated, several thousand euros and drugs were seized. In the home of D.S. they intercepted three packages of cannabis resin, worth 19,624 euros; packages of cannabis resin, two boxes with 18 bundles of bills that amounted to 176,110 euros and a telephone. In that of V.G. 1,640 euros in cash. In the case of J.A. in Caleta de Famara 7,000 euros were found and in his home in a surf shop in Soo 385 euros were found. Meanwhile, in the home of J.J.F 450 euros and two mobile phones were located. To conclude in the house of R.R. a blue agenda and a mobile phone were located.
Finally, various amounts of cash were seized, as well as mobile devices, SIM cards and several vehicles.