Añaza Gang Leader Masterminded Kidnapping, Murder; 12 Arrested
Police have arrested 12 members of the Añaza Gang, including leader Aarón Vargas, for the brutal kidnapping, torture, and murder of Alberto González Padrón, a crime stemming from a drug dispute, with the sole survivor allegedly offered money to remain silent.
Police investigators believe the Añaza Gang offered a large sum of money to León, the sole survivor of a brutal attack. León and Alberto González Padrón were kidnapped and tortured, with Alberto – known as 'Albertito' from El Cardonal – eventually beaten to death. The criminal group allegedly wanted León to keep quiet about what happened, hoping to prevent police from finding out about everyone involved.
Nearly three months after the incident, police confirmed that Aarón Vargas, also known as 'El Caca' and the undisputed leader of the Añaza Gang, was the mastermind behind the ambush, kidnapping, and violent death of Alberto González.
The case first came to light, as EL DÍA reported, when two men, Moisés Baute (known as 'Moi El Orejas') and Jonathan Martín (known as 'Johnny El Gordo'), turned themselves in to the South District Police Station in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on July 30. They arrived in a car, carrying Alberto González's body and León, who was severely injured from the kidnapping. Baute and Martín admitted to the police that they were responsible for the crimes.
However, the day before, Alberto's partner had reported him missing. This led Homicide investigators to look deeper into the incident and identify everyone truly involved.
In total, National Police have confirmed the arrest of 12 men. They are all members of the Añaza Gang and are accused of murder, kidnapping, causing serious injuries, and being part of a criminal organization. EL DÍA previously reported that these arrests happened in stages, following weeks of police work and analyzing information.
Homicide investigators believe Aarón Vargas set up the ambush as revenge for a 'drug rip-off' – an attempt to steal drugs between rival trafficking groups. A member of the Añaza Gang contacted the two victims, pretending to arrange a drug deal. This was a trap to lure them to a farm in the Agache area of Güímar.
On August 1, officers searched two locations. The first was the Lomo de Mena farm in Güímar, where eight members of the Añaza Gang allegedly carried out the initial attack and moved the victims. The second search was a garage next to the Southern highway in the Santa María del Mar neighborhood of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Here, the victims were held captive for over 24 hours, with one of them handcuffed the entire time. Alberto González Padrón died in that garage from his brutal injuries.
On August 8, León, the survivor, gave his testimony. He had received serious death threats, so police provided him with a special security detail to protect him before and during the process. León has feared for his life ever since, sometimes hiding to avoid being killed.
The Añaza Gang had at least twelve members, operating with a clear hierarchy where each person had specific roles. Like other criminal groups, the leader and his subordinates would plan kidnappings and attacks, deciding on locations, vehicles, participants, and weapons. Other members would guard victims, clean up crime scenes, hide evidence, or help cover up the crimes. As mentioned, the Gang allegedly offered León a large sum of money to stop him from testifying about what he had seen and endured.
After months of work, the Homicide Group arrested all twelve members of the criminal organization and believes it has broken up their operation. EL DÍA reported that eight of the twelve arrested have been sent to provisional prison, awaiting trial. The investigation is still ongoing, and more arrests are possible.