Four Canary Islands Mayors to Stand Trial Over Environmental Crimes in Tenerife
Four current and former mayors in Tenerife are set to stand trial in February 2027 over allegations of environmental crimes and malfeasance linked to untreated wastewater discharges at the Valle de Güímar Industrial Estate.
The management of water infrastructure in the Canary Islands is back under legal scrutiny. The Provincial Court of Santa Cruz de Tenerife has scheduled a trial for February 8, 2027, to address criminal charges related to polluting discharges at the Valle de Güímar Industrial Estate. This case highlights concerns over whether local officials failed in their duty to protect the marine environment.
Four political figures are set to stand trial: the current and former mayors of Candelaria, María Concepción Brito Núñez and José Gumersindo García Trujillo; former Arafo mayor José Juan Lemes Expósito; and Güímar mayor Carmen Luisa Castro Dorta. The investigation, which began under Magistrate Francisco Tuero González, alleges that these officials committed environmental crimes and malfeasance by failing to address a failing sanitation system. Prosecutors argue that for years, untreated industrial and urban wastewater was discharged into the sea without proper permits.
The case began in June 2017, when three local councilors filed a complaint regarding the poor condition of the area’s pumping stations and submarine outfall. During the investigation, the presiding judge noted that the municipalities—which have owned the industrial estate since 2013—had been passive in maintaining the sewage network.
The trial is expected to be complex. The first week will focus on testimony from Civil Guard officers, environmental staff, and local police. From February 11 to 18, the court will hear from experts, including specialists from the National Institute of Toxicology and Forensic Sciences, as well as analysts specializing in marine discharge.
The four defendants are scheduled to be questioned on February 16, with final reports and conclusions presented on February 18. Beyond determining the guilt of the accused, the trial will clarify the extent of political responsibility for managing essential public services and their impact on the Tenerife coastline.