A man has been arrested in Gran Canaria after police discovered 72 grams of cocaine hidden inside the vehicle he was driving during a routine stop at a checkpoint.
The arrest was carried out by officers from the Canary Islands Police's Operational Response Group (GROPE), during a static vehicle and person check on the island.
According to the Canary Islands Government's Department of Security, officers stopped a car driven by a Spanish national who appeared visibly nervous during the inspection.
As officers carried out checks, they found more than €5,000 in cash among the driver's belongings. The money was reportedly made up of banknotes of various denominations, which, together with other observations made during the stop, raised further suspicions.
Police then requested assistance from the Canary Islands Police Canine Unit. Two specially trained drug-detection dogs independently indicated the same area of the vehicle, suggesting the possible presence of narcotics.
A detailed search of the car followed, leading officers to a concealed package hidden behind interior panels within the vehicle's cabin. The package contained a white powdery substance weighing approximately 72 grams.
Tests carried out on the substance produced a positive result for cocaine.
The driver was subsequently arrested on suspicion of committing an offence against public health relating to the trafficking of drugs considered seriously harmful to health.
Officers seized the cocaine, the cash and other items believed to be connected to the alleged offence, which have been placed at the disposal of the relevant judicial authorities as evidence while the investigation continues.
The vehicle has been impounded and transferred to a municipal storage facility after investigators determined it had allegedly been used to conceal and transport the drugs.
