National Police have arrested a 50-year-old French citizen in Maspalomas, in the south of Gran Canaria, who was subject to a European Arrest Warrant (OEDE) issued by the judicial authorities of his country for his alleged involvement in a drug trafficking offense.

The man had been tried and convicted in France for drug trafficking, but was declared in absentia as his whereabouts were unknown, which led to the issuance of the corresponding arrest warrant.

Investigations confirmed the validity of the international warrant and established that the wanted individual was on the island. Officers located the man at a hotel establishment in the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana and set up a police operation that concluded with his identification and subsequent arrest.

After informing the competent judicial body of the Audiencia Nacional responsible for managing European Arrest Warrants, the detainee has been brought before the court.

Finally, the judicial authority has ordered his provisional imprisonment pending the completion of procedures for his handover to the French authorities.