Spanish authorities seized nearly 13 tonnes of so-called “laughing gas” in southern Tenerife, information from details attributed to the Guardia Civil. Six people were arrested and six others placed under investigation after coordinated raids in Arona, Adeje and Granadilla de Abona. Investigators suspect the family-led group imported nitrous oxide and distributed it for recreational use.
Officers reportedly confiscated 10,394 containers of nitrous oxide, with a combined weight of nearly 13,000 kilograms. The Guardia Civil described the haul as the second-largest seizure of the substance on the continent. Authorities also seized €63,500 and £1,000 in cash, along with approximately 200 grams of cocaine, nearly 600 grams of hashish, 1.4 kilograms of marijuana and 46 grams of “tusi,” a mixture of psychoactive substances. The searches also turned up pills, mushrooms, capsules and cannabinoid-infused edibles.
Investigators reported finding five imitation firearms and eight bladed weapons, including several axes, along with electronic devices and documents linked to the case. The group is suspected of overseeing the supply chain, from importing nitrous oxide and storing it at multiple properties to distributing it to nightlife venues and other locations across Tenerife. The operation was led by the Playa de las Américas investigation unit under the supervision of the Arona Court and the local anti-drug prosecutor’s office.
The six arrested people and six others are being investigated over alleged organized crime, drug trafficking, dealing in substances harmful to health and money laundering. These remain allegations at the investigative stage. The Guardia Civil says the case remains open and further arrests are possible. Nitrous oxide has legitimate medical and food-preparation uses; its recreational sale and distribution are distinct from those lawful uses, and the charges in each case depend on the alleged conduct and applicable legal provisions.
A separate Madrid case illustrates the range of enforcement activity involving recreational nitrous oxide. On 1 October 2026, Madrid Municipal Police arrested four people after searching storage units in Puente de Vallecas and Villa de Vallecas. They seized about 1,299.6 litres in 582 containers and around 30,000 balloons. EFE-based reporting put the estimated illicit-market value at €50,000 and described the haul as the largest seizure of the substance in the Community of Madrid. That investigation reportedly began in March 2026 after officers observed increased use in public spaces and nightlife venues. The suspects faced allegations including membership in a criminal group, trafficking in substances harmful to health and depositing dangerous substances.
Recreational inhalation of nitrous oxide can cause rapid euphoria and altered perception, but it also carries serious risks, including asphyxiation and neurological damage. Large quantities stored in enclosed, poorly ventilated spaces can pose additional safety hazards. The scale of the Tenerife seizure, as described by the Guardia Civil, highlights concerns about commercial distribution in nightlife settings, particularly in tourist areas. Similar law enforcement efforts have targeted other forms of criminal activity in Spanish regions, such as the arrest linked to a major wildfire in León.
