Tenerife Drug Suspect Jumps Into Sea, Rescued By Police
A 53-year-old Senegalese man, suspected of drug trafficking while posing as a street vendor in Costa Adeje, was arrested after attempting to evade police by jumping into the sea and subsequently requiring rescue by the officers he was fleeing.
A 53-year-old Senegalese man, who was pretending to be a street vendor in the Costa Adeje tourist area, was arrested last Wednesday evening after allegedly trying to escape police by jumping into the sea. He is suspected of distributing drugs.
When officers approached him near Puerto Colón beach, the man first threw away a backpack containing drugs, then leaped into the water. Oddly, he couldn't swim and ended up needing to be rescued by the very police officers he was trying to get away from.
The incident happened during a new operation by the National Police and Adeje Local Police to tackle illegal street vending in popular tourist spots. As police were working in Puerto Colón, the suspect became visibly nervous. After throwing his backpack, he jumped into the sea, hoping to avoid arrest. However, the pursuing National Police officers quickly realised he wouldn't get far.
Unable to swim, he clung to some rocks near the coast. To prevent him from drowning, officers quickly got a borrowed boat from the marina and went to his aid. Once he was safely out of the water, police informed him he was under arrest for drug trafficking.
Inside the backpack, officers found 16 small bags of marijuana and 14 bags of cocaine. A police dog from the Adeje Canine Unit helped confirm the presence of drugs. The man reportedly has a criminal record for previous drug offenses and road safety violations.
Authorities have launched these operations due to a rise in street vending in several areas in the south of Tenerife, including Playa Fañabé and Puerto Colón in Adeje, as well as Las Américas Avenue (Golden Mile) in Playa de las Américas, and the promenade of Las Vistas beach in Arona.
These operations typically involve patrol officers, special units from the National Police, and local police forces. While illegal street vending is usually an administrative offense resulting in a fine, these efforts also aim to stop the sale of counterfeit goods. If fake products are found, officers can investigate and even arrest those responsible. Immigration officers also take part, checking for individuals who are in the country illegally or have an expulsion order.
So far, nearly 4,000 items from street stalls have been seized in Adeje, and dozens of large bags of goods have been collected in Arona for the same reason.