Tenerife Casino Robbery Gang Leaders Held in Custody
A judge has ordered two alleged leaders of a gang linked to at least 15 armed robberies at Tenerife gambling establishments to be held in custody following their arrest by the National Police.
A judge has ordered two men, believed to be the leaders of a gang that robbed gambling establishments in Tenerife, to be held in custody. This common step in serious cases helps prevent suspects from escaping or committing more crimes. It follows their arrest by the National Police.
Police sources say the gang is linked to at least fifteen robberies at mini-casinos across the island, including in the Los Majuelos area. The robbers always worked the same way: they would cover their faces with masks, caps, and hoods before going in. They used bladed weapons like knives, katanas, and machetes to scare and overpower staff, making sure they could steal cash.
The investigation shows the group was well-organised, with clear roles and careful planning, both inside the casinos and for watching outside. At least three people usually took part in the robberies, while a fourth person acted as a lookout. After the robberies, they escaped in cars or on motorcycles, a method recorded at least thirteen times.
One incident on January 19 shows how dangerous the gang was and how they operated. In the early hours, two men with a machete tried to get into a mini-casino in the Yumbo shopping centre in Ofra. Quick-thinking staff managed to close the doors, stopping them from getting inside. The suspects then fled in a white rental car, a Seat Ibiza. A La Laguna Local Police patrol spotted the car speeding, leading to a chase. The car eventually crashed off the road at a roundabout on the Carretera General del Rosario, in Las Moraditas de Taco. After a large police operation, one of the people in the car, a young man of North African descent born in the Canary Islands, was arrested.
These crimes, known as robbery with violence and intimidation, are very serious under Spanish law. Using weapons and being part of a criminal gang means much tougher sentences. The Robbery Group of the Judicial Police at the North District Police Station in Santa Cruz de Tenerife is still investigating the case.