News from Tenerife (#37) is published every week as a short news overview of the past week on your favorite website.
In this series, we publish a number of events and news facts from the past week. Each article in News from Tenerife is a synthesis of several facts, actions, and occurrences that are too short to be published as a full-fledged article.
Criminal gang dismantled
News from Tenerife #37/1
The Guardia Civil has successfully concluded a major police operation that led to the dismantling of a criminal organisation engaged in drug trafficking in the south of Tenerife, mainly in the municipalities of Arona (Cabo Blanco) and Adeje. Four individuals have been arrested, including the leader of the organisation. This leader, along with the second suspect and two direct family members, formed a structured network.
The investigation began last year following suspicious activities that pointed to a distribution network of narcotic substances. Thanks to surveillance, monitoring programmes, and advanced investigative techniques, officers gathered sufficient evidence regarding the criminal structure and hierarchy within the group. The main suspect delivered cocaine daily using a regular car, travelling back and forth between Adeje and Cabo Blanco to carry out transactions. He coordinated and led the operation with the assistance of close family members.
One of the central storage points turned out to be a storage unit in the basement of a building in Cabo Blanco.
During three simultaneous house searches—at the main suspects’ residences and in the storage unit—the following items were seized: €13,000 in cash, 73 pre-packaged doses of cocaine for sale, a bag containing more than 50 grams of crack cocaine, several precision scales, sales logbooks, three mobile phones, and a vehicle used for drug transportation.
The operation was carried out by agents of the Guardia Civil from the Investigation Department of the main station in Playa de las Américas, supported by the Reserve and Security Group number 8 (GRS‑8) of the Canary Islands and the Canine Unit (Sección Cinológica).
Wild dogs return to Arafo
News from Tenerife #37/2
Livestock farmer Jenifer Santos Cabrera, owner of the award-winning cheese dairy Aborigen, has once again reported an attack by feral dogs on her farm La Cabra Eco, in the highlands of Arafo. The attack strongly resembles the one that occurred fifteen days ago, presumably carried out by the same dog or dogs, judging by the bite marks she observed.
“I still can’t say exactly how many are dead or injured,” she explains, “until I can go down to the ravine tomorrow morning and locate the fifteen missing goats. Some froze in fear when they saw the dogs,” said Jenifer about the dramatic situation—something that can also be seen in a short video showing one of the dogs just after killing a young goat. Jenifer Santos Cabrera, recipient of the Agrojoven award from the island council (Cabildo), regrets that “in the fifteen days since we farmers have repeatedly reported these attacks, no one has done anything. Even at the town hall, it can take up to five days to get the necessary paperwork, which is totally irrelevant in this context,” referring to property or lease documents for the affected lands. The footage shows a shepherd dog still roaming the area shortly after killing a baifo.
The well-known livestock farmer has since reported the incident to the local police, who immediately visited the site. The owner also filed a report with SEPRONA (the nature protection service of the Guardia Civil) and with the municipality of Arafo. During her account, she also pointed out that another farmer, Pilar Carballo from the farm Finca La Jara, was also affected last month by an attack from a pack of dogs that killed several sheep. Pilar managed to capture a male podenco (hunting dog) on Monday with the help of neighbours. The dog had already killed several cats. A female dog was also caught, but managed to escape.
Transparency requested regarding works at the Punta de Teno lighthouse
News from Tenerife #37/3
The municipal council group of ‘Sí se puede’ in Buenavista del Norte has submitted a motion requesting greater transparency regarding the works currently being carried out at the Teno lighthouse and its surrounding areas. This proposal arose from the suggestions of citizens who participated in last month’s public assembly, where this and other key municipal issues were discussed.
Esteban Lorenzo, municipal councillor for ‘Sí se puede’ in Buenavista del Norte, stated that it is incomprehensible that the municipal government (PSOE) — despite the strong response from the people of Buenavista, both via social media and in person — has not organised a meeting with the citizens and the island government, which is promoting the works, to offer transparency about the actions being undertaken in an area of such importance to the local population. In the motion, the group highlights that the public’s reaction has demonstrated that the works began without clear and detailed information being provided to the residents of Buenavista.
One of the most controversial issues is the installation of a hospitality service in the old lighthouse. Although the original project mentioned the opening of a small café, press headlines have spoken of a full restaurant. “We are convinced that the proposals for the sales point have changed in relation to the population’s original sentiments. Therefore, we are proposing in our motion a revision of this goal, which should be an exclusive municipal prerogative. It is the municipality’s responsibility to listen to the people and propose what is most appropriate for this site, with all due guarantees,” said Lorenzo Rivero.
Finally, Sí se puede stresses that although the restoration and maintenance of a historic building like the Teno lighthouse is necessary, it is only part of the overall project proposed for Punta de Teno. This project includes several objectives, such as increasing awareness of the connection between Buenavista and Punta de Teno, the archaeological and ethnographic interpretation of the area, environmental conservation and the rehabilitation of degraded zones, the demolition of disused infrastructure, and so on. “We will continue working for the integral rehabilitation of Punta de Teno so that it can recover its ecosystem and be recognised for its natural and historical value, from Guanche times to the present day,” said Esteban Lorenzo. He concluded with the words: “We cannot allow the interventions in Punta de Teno to be limited to infrastructure works, nor that only those works be prioritised, while so many other important aspects also need to be addressed.”
Largest romería in Tenerife blows out 89 candles
News from Tenerife #37/4
La Orotava welcomed over 25,000 people who enjoyed the romería in honour of San Isidro Labrador and Santa María de la Cabeza, organised by the Sociedad Cultural Liceo de Taoro in collaboration with the municipal government. The municipality of La Orotava celebrated yesterday what is considered the most beautiful festival in the Canary Islands: the traditional romería. The procession included 79 floats (one of which could not depart due to a wheel problem), around thirty music groups (parrandas), and more than 25,000 attendees.
The heat lasted throughout the day and at times became unbearable, but that did not stop people from dancing and enjoying the good food and drink. Thousands of tourists gathered along the route to secure a good spot and take beautiful photos with their mobile phones. From early in the morning, magos and magas (men and women in traditional dress) were seen in the surrounding towns, waiting for the bus to La Orotava, where everything was already prepared for one of the most anticipated romerías in the region and on the island.
The Sociedad Cultural Liceo de Taoro has been organising this event since 1936, at the initiative of then-president César Hernández Martínez. Since then, horses and flower-decorated carts were added to the procession, and over the years it has grown into a major folkloric event. Music groups, singers and dancers form a colourful mosaic, dressed in traditional costumes from Tenerife, La Orotava and other parts of the seven islands, parading through the cobbled streets of the town to the sounds of isas, folías and other traditional songs and dances.
This year marked the 88th edition, as the event could not take place in 2020 and 2021 due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. The town concludes its patron saint festivities after an intense week of events, including the wine harvest presentation, the Infraoctave of Corpus Christi, the baile de magos, the livestock fair and the parade of the saints (Subida de los Santos).
In 24 years: half a million more inhabitants and 2,000 fewer hospital beds
News from Tenerife #37/5
Since 2000, 522,478 new residents have been added to the Canary Islands, but the number of hospital beds has decreased by nearly 2,000. While the population continues to grow steadily, the healthcare system is being overwhelmed by rising demand and increasingly limited resources. The equation is unsustainable: more people, fewer resources.
In 2000, the Canary Archipelago had around 8,000 hospital beds (5,200 public and 2,800 private). Today, that number is around 6,000 beds in total, of which only 4,418 are part of the public system. Added to this is an alarming figure: more than 600 public beds are occupied by patients who have already been medically discharged but cannot be transferred due to a shortage of social care placements.
In the same period, the population has grown from 1.7 to 2.2 million inhabitants, an increase of 30%. The biggest jump occurred in the first decade of this century, but in recent years the increase has picked up again: between 2023 and 2024 alone, 25,738 new residents were added.
Trade unions have described the situation as “chaotic” and are calling on the public to take legal action over the state of the healthcare system. The health service has implemented emergency measures, deployed additional staff and carried out renovations, but the core of the problem remains unaddressed.
With more than 2.2 million inhabitants and only 6,000 hospital beds, the healthcare system of the Canary Islands is at a tipping point. The population has grown, needs have increased… but resources remain stuck in the previous century.
These events and developments have a significant impact on life in Tenerife, highlighting the diverse challenges, progress, and opportunities faced by the island.
Unknown © Photography
News from Tenerife #37 ©
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