The two men arrested last Thursday night with 40 kilos of hashish in Uga had recently encountered the Civil Guard. Specifically, on Tuesday of last week, the Seprona reported them to the Environmental Prosecutor's Office for holding a shearwater roast along with 18 other people on the islet of Alegranza. Just two days later, these two men were arrested near Uga, while fleeing from Civil Guard and Local Police officers, and were transporting several bundles of hashish in their vehicle, with a total weight of 40 kilograms.
These are two men, both natives of the island, who must now face charges for allegedly committing a crime against flora and fauna and another against public health. They were arrested for this second alleged crime and brought to justice.
That arrest occurred after the Civil Guard received a tip that there were several people unearthing bundles near the coast. The Benemérita prepared a security device at the Uga roundabout, together with the Yaiza Local Police. One of the vehicles left the caravan and fled along a dirt road. A chase then broke out that ended with the arrest of these two men and the discovery of the 40 kilograms of hashish. Both had already abandoned the car and were trying to flee on foot, although they did not succeed. A third person involved did, and has not yet been arrested.
Eating shearwaters around a table and under a tent in a protected area
Regarding the shearwater roast, 19 people were identified by Seprona agents on El Veril beach, on the islet of Alegranza, around a table eating specimens of this protected species. "All indications are that they were carrying out hunting activity, totally prohibited in that area, of the protected species," the Benemérita pointed out at the time. For this reason, they were reported to the Environmental Prosecutor's Office. After identifying those 19 people, the agents located one more person who had fled the scene, bringing the total number of defendants to 20.
According to the Penal Code, "anyone who hunts, fishes, acquires, possesses or destroys protected species of wild fauna will be punished with a prison sentence of six months to two years or a fine of eight to twenty-four months and, in any case, special disqualification for profession or trade and special disqualification for the exercise of the right to hunt or fish for a period of two to four years."
In addition, it is possible that these 20 defendants will also be reported for having violated the Chinijo Archipelago Regulatory Plan with that roast. The group to which these two detainees belonged had obtained permission to anchor on that beach of Alegranza on September 4. However, the Civil Guard began to suspect that they might be doing "something more than anchoring" and set up a device to monitor them. According to them, the installation of the tent, the table and the chairs could constitute another infraction of this Plan and, therefore, related to the ordering of the territory.
The agents also informed the Cabildo of the events, so that the corresponding council could prepare a report "to assess the damage caused in the area by these people." The Chinijo Archipelago has three different types of protection: for being a natural park, as a Special Conservation Area and a Special Protection Area for Birds.
