Spain's National Police and the Canary Islands Autonomous Police have dismantled a network in Gran Canaria that facilitated sexual encounters with minors under the care of the Canary Islands Government. The operation involved four home searches and led to four arrests, with at least seven victims located. The detainees are in provisional prison as the investigation continues.
Spain's National Police and the Canary Islands Autonomous Police announced on Friday the dismantling of a criminal network in Gran Canaria allegedly dedicated to facilitating sexual encounters with minors under the care of the Canary Islands Government. The operation, conducted this week, involved four simultaneous home searches: two in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and two in Santa Lucía de Tirajana, in the southeast of the island. These actions led to the location of at least seven victims.
Security forces arrested four individuals, who are currently in provisional prison. The operation remains open, so further arrests are not ruled out. During the searches, digital and computer materials, storage devices, a revolver-type firearm, and narcotic substances were seized. Investigations indicate that the detainees were involved in organizing these sexual encounters with minors.
This case comes just over a month after Operation Triton, in which Spain's National Police dismantled a transnational network trafficking minors from care centers in the Canary Islands to France. That action resulted in 11 arrests—nine in Lanzarote and two in Madrid and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria—for charges including membership in a criminal organization, document forgery, illegal human trafficking, violations of family rights, cover-up, and child pornography. Operation Triton remains open to locate and protect the missing minors. A spokesperson for the Canary Islands Government stated that there are about 300 open procedures for minors escaping from tutelage centers.
