A man was arrested at the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife while attempting to introduce 4.5 kilos of cocaine hidden in his vehicle. The Court of Instruction number two has ordered provisional imprisonment.
Agents from Customs Surveillance and the Civil Guard have detained a man at the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife while he was trying to introduce 4.5 kilos of cocaine onto the island. The drug, which would be valued at around 280,000 euros on the black market, was hidden inside the car he was driving.
The events occurred during a fiscal verification control upon the arrival of a commercial vessel from Gran Canaria. When the vehicle was stopped, the agents observed a nervous and evasive attitude from the driver, which prompted a more thorough inspection.
During the initial search, the suspect attempted to identify himself with a false document. Realising that the agents were about to discover the drugs, he fled on foot, leading to a physical altercation. The individual violently confronted the officers, causing minor injuries to several of them before being subdued and arrested.
After the arrest, investigators located a hidden compartment in the car where the 4.5 kilos of cocaine were found. The drugs were seized and the detainee was placed at the disposal of the Court of Instruction number two of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, which has ordered his provisional imprisonment.
The authorities are continuing the investigation to determine the origin of the drugs, the distribution network, and the final destination of the cocaine, which was to be introduced into the Canary market.
Such operations are common in the Canary ports, considered key points for the entry of narcotics from Latin America and Africa. The collaboration between Customs Surveillance and the Civil Guard is essential to intercept these shipments before they reach the streets.
The detainee, whose identity has not been disclosed, will remain in prison while judicial proceedings are underway. He faces a public health offence for drug trafficking, which can carry prison sentences of between 3 and 9 years, depending on the quantity and purity of the substance.
The armed institute reminds of the importance of border controls to prevent the entry of drugs into the archipelago. Due to its geographical location, the Canary Islands are a transit and destination point for significant shipments of cocaine, heroin, and hashish.
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