The Second Section of the Provincial Court of Las Palmas will judge next Wednesday, September 25, and Thursday, September 26, in Gran Canaria 17 people accused of introducing 157.330 kilograms of cocaine in Lanzarote. The trial for this plot was scheduled for July 2023, but will finally be held a year and two months later.
The accused allegedly planned the transport of this narcotic substance from South America, specifically from Venezuela, to the island, using a sailboat that landed in the port of La Marina. The drug was later sold to a nightlife businessman from Lanzarote.
This case arises from investigations carried out by the Organized Crime Team (ECO) of the Central Operational Unit (UCO) of the Judicial Police of the Las Palmas Command between December 2016 and April 2017. At that time, they became aware that a group of people was allegedly dedicated to introducing and distributing cocaine in Lanzarote, enriching themselves with it.
According to the Prosecutor's Office's indictment, the accused allegedly collaborated with other unidentified individuals to transport cocaine by boat from South America, possibly from Venezuela, to Lanzarote.
The Public Ministry accuses E.A.A. of being the "head" of this structure, directing and issuing orders from Lanzarote, as well as planning the acquisition of the drug, organizing its transport and its subsequent distribution throughout the island. For this, it indicates that he had the support of a person in charge, J.F.L.B., who is in a situation of international search and capture.
The Public Prosecutor's accusation indicates that the defendants R.R.A.B. and R.A.G., father and son, assisted and collaborated directly with the alleged head of the plot to collect and send money.
According to this document, E.A.A. organized the entry in November 2016 into Lanzarote of a sailboat containing 157.33 kilograms of cocaine, which were later seized in the Living nightclub, located on the Biosfera esplanade in Arrecife, in April 2017. For this reason, the captain and owner of the sailboat, J.D.B.T., and the owner of the nightclub, P.F.C.L., are also accused in the case.
Three different structures
After introducing the drug to the island, the police operation reveals up to three different structures:
Firstly, according to the Prosecutor's Office, J.A.L (alias El Viejo), V.G.R. (alias El Bajito) and D.S.H. allegedly acquired the drug immediately and with the help of the head of the plot paid the fees to the captain of the sailboat J.D.B.T. for transporting the drug to Lanzarote. Then, they had to distribute it throughout the rest of the islands.
The captain of the sailboat, J.D.B.T. allegedly used several family members and friends, "perfectly aware of the illicit origin of the money", who traveled to Gran Canaria or Lanzarote to take the money out of the islands. Thus, the Ministry accuses F.T.V., F.T.L., I.T.V., A.M.F.V., C.M.T, R.C.T. and A.N.P of participating in this operation.
After that, the narcotic substance arrived on the island and was acquired by a businessman dedicated to nightlife in Lanzarote, P.F.C.L (known as El Jefe del Gordo). This drug arrived in Lanzarote after various negotiations between the defendants J.A.L. (El Viejo), V.G.R. (El Bajito) and E.A.A. (the head of the plot), with J.J.F.M. (alias El Gordo) and P.F.C.L. (alias El Jefe del Gordo). At this point, the Prosecutor's Office classifies the intermediation in the operation of El Gordo as "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 another of the accused C.P.V took the drug out of the place transporting it to the Living nightclub, located on the Cabildo esplanade. 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.
Penalties requested by the Prosecutor's Office
The Prosecutor's Office charges the 17 defendants with two crimes against public health in the form of substance that causes serious damage.
Seven of the investigated (A.E.A.A., R.R.A.B., R.A.G., J.A.L, V.G.R, D.S.H. and J.D.B.T.), accused of introducing the drug, transporting it, moving the illicit money and distributing the cocaine throughout the island face fines amounting to 45.3 million euros each, and a prison sentence of 13 years and three months and special disqualification for the right to passive suffrage during the term of the sentence.
Likewise, the Public Ministry asks for the seven family members of the sailboat captain who allegedly mobilized the illicit money to take it out of Lanzarote a total of six years in prison each, special disqualification of passive suffrage as well as two fines of five million euros each.
Finally, the three accused of buying the substance and transferring it to a leisure venue on the island face fines of 22 million euros and a prison sentence of eight years and six months.
Searches in the homes of the accused
After several searches authorized by the Investigating Court number 4 in the homes of the investigated, several thousand euros and drugs were seized. In addition, in the home of D.S. they intercepted three packages of cannabis resin, worth 19,624 euros; cannabis resin wrappers, two boxes with 18 bundles of bills amounting 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.
