PERIL IN PARADISE: Mafia, rivals turn tourist hotspot into war zone
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Behind the palm trees, tropical breezes and sandy beaches a bloody battle for control of the drug rackets on the Canary Islands is unfolding in the shadows.
On one side, the traditional Italian Mafia who have long ruled the dope roost on the islands off the northwest coast of Africa.
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Battling them for control are newcomer British drug gangs.
The islands’ underbelly came sharply into focus following the mysterious disappearance of British man Jay Slater, 19, who vanished three weeks ago. He was last seen partying in Playa de las Americas but local detectives claim there is no link to the drug world.
That’s beside the fact that one of the last people he was seen with was convicted drug dealer Ayub Qassim.
Slater’s broken and battered body was discovered late Monday, yards from his last known location. Investigators believe the teen suffered “broken bones” after falling.
His family is demanding an autopsy and wondering how he ended up where he was found.
Tenerife is ground zero for the simmering drugs turf war.
For decades, Italian mobsters have invaded European hotspots peddling the poison. Bullets have typically squelched underworld usurpers.
With its tens of thousands of tourist visitors, Tenerife has long been a coveted market. It is also the first port of call for drug shipments from Latin America.
Interpol said: “The criminal gang is believed to have played an active role in cocaine and cannabis trafficking in between Spain and Italy, using vehicles equipped with hidden compartments and speedboats to transport the drugs.”
One expat told the Daily Mail: “The big players are still the Italians when it comes to organized crime and money laundering but now others are moving in and there are a lot of British gangs, mainly from London, Liverpool and Manchester.
“They know it makes sense as most of the holidaymakers are from Britain so they can hone in on them and it’s a nice easy transaction and it makes them a lot of money.
“It’s getting really tribal and it’s not the sort of place you want to hang around too long in at night.”
In December, eight Italian mobsters and Colombian cartel boss were arrested by Tenerife cops.
A detective hired by Slater’s family believes the Brit’s disappearance was, in fact, connected to an “established criminal network.”
“As part of this investigation, we have sought to speak with all of the people Jay had contact with whilst in Tenerife,” Mark Williams-Thomas told reporters.
“The result of this digging has opened up an established criminal network with links to drugs, violent crime and theft. At this stage I cannot expand any further on what we now know.”
He added: “I’m unable to say if this network has anything to do with Jay’s disappearance (and death) but remain open-minded as we continue to investigate.”
Ayub Qassim, 31, the former dope dealer, said he shared an Airbnb with Slater. A third unnamed man stayed in the unit.
Qassim told The UK Sun he had nothing to hide and that “Jay came to the house alive, and he left the house alive.”
Cops have cleared Qassim.
But the detective believes Slater was “scared.”
Police spent almost two weeks searching for Slater in the Tenerife mountains, scouring a 2,000-ft ravine, before calling it off on June 30.
The teen’s heartbroken father, Warren Slater, slammed the cops and declared “everything stinks.”
“My starting position, I’ve said this from day one, ask the two men who’ve taken him – and then start from there,” he told The UK Sun.
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