The National Police has dismantled in the Canary Islands an alleged destructive sect that used rituals linked to Santeria to exercise “absolute psychological control” over its followers, from whom it demanded significant amounts of money in exchange for supposed spiritual benefits or the cure of diseases. The operation has resulted in five detainees – four in Tenerife and one in Gran Canaria – and with the provisional imprisonment of the considered leader of the group.
As reported by the Police, those arrested are accused of the crimes of illicit association, animal abuse, fraud, injuries, against public health and document falsification. The actions have been carried out mainly in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, although the investigation has had ramifications on the island of Gran Canaria.
Investigators maintain that the group operated under an appearance of spirituality and directed its activities to people with different vulnerable situations. Through deception and the inculcation of fears—in many cases of a spiritual nature—those responsible subjected the followers to total control of their personal and economic decisions, with the ultimate goal of illicitly enriching themselves.
Rituals with drugs and sacrificed animals
According to police information, the leaders of the sect organized esoteric ceremonies in which figures and objects representing supposed deities were used. “During the rituals carried out, animals were sacrificed and substances that posed a health risk were consumed, such as jimsonweed, popper or cocaine,” the armed group explained.
The consumption of these drugs, together with the strong coercive component of the ceremonies, would have had serious consequences for some of the members of the group. The Police point out that the psychological control exercised by the leader was so intense that several former followers have needed psychiatric treatment after leaving the organization.
Provisional prison for the leader
After being brought to justice, the competent court has decreed provisional detention for the leader of the sect, while the rest of the detainees have been released with the imposition of various precautionary measures. The investigation remains open and new actions are not ruled out if more victims appear.
The National Police specialists have warned in the operation’s press release of the risk posed by this type of groups, which operate under the cover of spiritual or religious practices to cover up criminal activities, exert coercion on their followers and obtain important economic benefits.
The police force remembers that it keeps the email sectasdestructivas@policia.es enabled so that any citizen can anonymously and confidentially report the existence of similar practices.
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