Three men, aged between 37 and 51, have been arrested in Tenerife, for allegedly organising retreats that involved the consumption of various hallucinogens, including ayahuasca, LSD, bufo toad venom, and kambó frog secretion. These retreats, held on a rural estate in Tegueste, were offered at prices ranging from 150 to 500 euros.
The arrests were made by the National Police following an investigation that was opened after they received reports about a supposed association that advertised these retreats on the island of Tenerife.
The retreats were promoted as opportunities for participants to enhance their health and spiritual well-being through the use of psychoactive and hallucinogenic substances.
According to the police, the organisers initially kept the location of the retreat secret from participants, and the exact location was only disclosed after they had paid their registration fees, a measure that the organisers took to maintain secrecy and avoid detection by the police.
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The main suspect, a 51-year-old man believed to be the organiser of the retreats, was arrested along with two other men, aged 37 and 44, who are suspected of assisting him. The three men were taken to police custody, where they were questioned before being brought before the judicial authorities.
In a statement, the police emphasised that the substances involved pose significant health risks, adding that there have been fatalities linked to their use. The unregulated administration of these powerful psychotropics, without any medical oversight, could lead to severe adverse effects on both physical and mental health in the short and long term.
