Santero rituals in which “animals were sacrificed and substances were consumed”. This is how the “destructive sect“dismantled last week by the National Police in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands.
The followers were subjected to large doses of hallucinogenic substanceslike “stramonium, popper and cocaine“to exercise on them “psychological manipulation”according to police sources.
Furthermore, some of the people recruited by this sectarian group were forced to live with the leader and with his partner in the same household. And although this cannot yet be confirmed with certainty, sectarian experts consulted by this newspaper say that it could be a possible network involving sexual abuse.
Objects found during the operation to dismantle the destructive sect in the Canary Islands.
He chief of the sect – which is currently intemporary prison– is a middle-aged man who lived in the neighborhood of La Esperanza, in El Rosario, municipality of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. But locally, His person and his practices are a mystery about which almost no neighbor knows anything.
Apparently, those arrested who led the group “subjected the members to absolute control“. The followers were forced to take drugs during ceremonies with figures and objects representing supposed deities.
They were “vulnerable people those who manipulated through deception and fear,” all based on spiritual beliefs.
“Psychopathic or narcissistic traits”
The “psychological control” was such that many participants in these sects had to “receive psychiatric treatment“after having escaped the deceptions.
Furthermore, according to sources close to the investigation, the followers of the sect had to pay “a significant financial benefit” be accepted to participate in these esoteric rituals.
Objects found during the operation to dismantle the destructive sect in the Canary Islands.
Manuel Pérez Torres, psychologist expert in cults, explains that this fact is part of the “group psychology”. In a conversation with EL ESPAÑOL, Pérez Torres highlights that it is a “deep manipulation” to convert followers into “dependent, disabled and vulnerable people”.
“It is a form of persuasion that nullifies a person’s freedom, and even generates a new identity“, adds the therapist. The specialist explains that “when they find a victim or a group of victims, they know very well how to gradually take them into their territory”.
Pérez Torres argues that the profile of the leaders of these groups follows common patterns that make them “experts in manipulation”: “They have psychopathic or narcissistic traits”.
According to police officers, the leaders of the destructive sect take advantage of these practices to to enrich oneself illicitly. In exchange, the cultists promised false personal benefits, such as “eliminate spiritual ailments and even illnesses”.
The sect used as modus operandi the celebration of santero rites typical of African-American worship for handling subscribers.
The national police have dismantled a santero sect in the Canary Islands.
These rites are part of the yoruba religiona spiritual tradition of African origin, whose rites are based on the relationship between human beings and animals. orishasdeities who represent the forces of nature. According to reports from SPANISH Juanjo, a practitioner of this religion. These rituals seek spiritual balance, protection and well-being of the community.
Dead animals on the beaches
Last Thursday, agents of the National Police They carried out an operation which ended with the arrest of five people and the dismantling of the sect.
The detainees are accused as “suspected perpetrators of the crimes of illicit association, animal abuse, fraud, injury, crimes against public health and falsification of documents”, as indicated by the police.
Four of them were arrested Tenerife; the fifth, in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. All were brought to justice last Thursday, December 18, and the temporary prison for sect leader. The other people arrested are subject to precautionary measures.
The specialists in charge of these investigations keep their corporate messaging activated so that any citizen can communicate facts related to the case. “destructive sects” guaranteeing, at all times, anonymity and confidentiality.
👉Are you going through a difficult time in your life? Do you know anyone who is?
👀If this is the case, BE CAREFUL, in complicated situations we are more vulnerable to messages from #sects destructive
🆘Do you have any information? Write to us⤵️ sectasdestructivas@policia.es pic.twitter.com/G15iGuZObe
– National Police (@policia) December 19, 2025
For its part, the Association of Victims of Santería explains that these groups “They use beaches, crossroads and churches for their rituals”. “There then they leave dead animals“, they told this newspaper.
The Canary Islands are the fourth region with the most sectarian groups in Spainfollowed by Valencia, Barcelona and Madrid. The Canarian community currently has more than 70 sects different in active.
The agents alert the population to the deceptions used by these sectarians, who disguise the coercion of their supporters as spiritual rites For subject them to heavy handling.
About The Author
