Guardia Civil seizes 13 tonnes of laughing gas in Tenerife, second largest nitrous oxide bust in Europe

The raids

Guardia Civil launched Operation Centro after detecting nitrous oxide consumption in leisure areas of southern Tenerife. The recreational drug, commonly known as "laughing gas," was being imported from abroad and distributed across the island through a criminal network. On Sunday, 16 August, the Guardia Civil confirmed that four simultaneous and successive raids were carried out across the Tenerife municipalities of Arona, Adeje, and Granadilla de Abona. Six people were detained and six others placed under investigation as suspected members of a criminal organization, facing charges of drug trafficking, trafficking of harmful substances, and money laundering. The operation resulted in the dismantling of the organization that imported, stored, and distributed the substance. The Guardia Civil described the operation as the second largest seizure of nitrous oxide in Europe.

Seized materials

During the raids, agents intervened 10,394 containers of nitrous oxide with a combined weight of nearly 13,000 kilograms. Officers also recovered 63,500 euros and 1,000 British pounds in cash. The searches yielded approximately 213 grams of cocaine, 599 grams of hashish, 1.4 kilograms of marijuana, and 46 grams of "tusi," a mixture of various psychoactive substances. Additional narcotic materials were found on site, including pills, mushrooms, capsules, and edible preparations containing cannabinoids. The Guardia Civil also confiscated five simulated firearms and eight bladed weapons, among them several axes, along with electronic devices and abundant documentation related to the activities under investigation.

Criminal network structure

The Guardia Civil characterized the dismantled group as a criminal structure with clearly defined functions, dedicated to importing nitrous oxide into Tenerife, receiving and storing it in various properties, and subsequently distributing and selling it through a supply network on the island. The organization was led by a family-based directive core, with one branch responsible for logistics and reception of goods arriving from abroad, and another managing final distribution across the island.

This is the second largest seizure in Europe of nitrous oxide

The investigation that led to the operation began when the Guardia Civil became aware of nitrous oxide consumption in different leisure areas of southern Tenerife, which uncovered the existence of the hierarchical criminal structure. The substance, employed as a recreational drug, had been circulating in the island's nightlife areas before the operation was set in motion.

Legal proceedings

The operation was conducted by the research unit of the Playa de las Américas main Guardia Civil station, under the direction of the Arona Instance Court and at the request of the Arona Anti-Drug Prosecutor's Office. All twelve individuals identified in the operation are suspected of belonging to a criminal organization and of committing drug trafficking, trafficking of harmful substances to health, and money laundering offenses. The Guardia Civil stated in a press release issued on Sunday that the investigation remains open and that further arrests have not been ruled out as the case continues to develop.