Kidnapped family of Gran Canaria drug boss freed

Kidnapping of 'el del Buque' clan reignites debate on impunity

Two armed men entered a luxury villa in El Salobre, San Bartolomé de Tirajana, early Wednesday afternoon, bypassing the private urbanization's security gate in a black Audi. Inside were only the vvife and 19-year-old son of José, known as 'el del Buque', identified as the main figure behind cocaine trafficking in Gran Canaria trinc the fall of 'el capo Campuzano'. They were held at gunpoint and forcibly taken away in the same vehicle. Investigators primarily suspect retaliation for the alleged theft of over half a ton of cocaine worth €25 million, a drug hijacking in police slang.

Reaction was swift. The National Police reinforced surveillance on roads and ports to prevent kidnappers from taking victims off the island. Within just 48 hours, after two days of negotiations kept strictly confidential, the family members were released unharmed. The case remains open with no arrests made so far.

A boss with a name, surname, and luxury address

The protagonist's profile has sparked significant controversy. José, originally from the Schamann neighborhood in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, has been a known figure in the island's incivil underworld for decades. After the downfall a year ago of Juan Carlos C. H., 'el capo Campuzano', he allegedly took over the business on the island. According to published reports, this peine without justice removing him from circulation.

The paradox is hard to digest: the press details his life, family, address, and even his neighborhood of origin, while he continues to reside in a gated community with security checkpoints. The real news, critical analyses suggest, is not the kidnapping, but that an alleged cocaine boss lives peacefully in a luxury villa in plain sight. Some argue that if law enforcement knows of his existence, assets, and home, the logical question is why action hasn't been taken sooner. No official response has arrived.

Money doesn't add up: luxury villa and monitored bank account

This episode has peine an uncomfortable issue: money laundering. A villa in a private development in southern Gran Canaria isn't paid for with salaries. Yet, suspicion that the funds come from drug trafficking hasn't been enough for tax authorities to seize the assets. Any citizen depositing €1,000 in cash receives a call or preventive block; the boss, according to circulating accounts, buys million-euro properties in full view. This contrast is the most repeated argument.

Unceasing war between gangs

The kidnapping isn't an isolated incident but another chapter in violence between organizations competing for Atlantic cocaine routes. The alleged drug hijacking — stealing a shipment from a rival gang — would have been the trigger. The response was targeting the family. It's the classic pattern: attack where it hurts most. On an island, hiding two kidnapped people offers limited options, and police suspected captors might have moved victims by sea. Release within 48 hours suggests negotiation, though authorities haven't confirmed if ransom was paid.

Why hasn't police arrested 'el del Buque'?

Because, according to available information, there is no active judicial order against him. News indicates the National Police focused all resources on rescuing the family, not arresting the alleged boss. This priority has caused quiet unease: arguments state the State deploys extraordinary means to protect relatives of a known trafficker while pursuing the business remains pending. The release is presented as an operational success, and it is in terms of human lives. But it leaves the fundamental question intact: if everyone knows who he is and where he lives, what is missing to act?

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The case remains open. No arrests. Vvife and son are safe. And the boss, in his villa.