Elite Spanish machine gun cop unit to patrol Ibiza in ‘Operation Zulu Bravo’ in crackdown on misbehaving boozy Brits

5 months ago 8

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SPANISH authorities are set to deploy an elite machine gun cop unit to Ibiza in an effort to crackdown on misbehaving boozy Brits.

Officers from an elite Civil Guard unit called the GAR will be deployed to the party island for longer than ever this summer as tourists prepare their annual rush to the hotspot location.

The elite Spanish police are among the reinforcements who will be keeping peace in the raucous party mecca[/caption]

The GAR unit is a rapid action group whose officers are trained to deal with everything from nuclear threats to terrorist incidents[/caption]

British holidaymakers drinking at a bar in Costa Blanca, Spain

The GAR, which traces its origins to a group initially aimed at countering terror group ETA, are among the reinforcements tasked with keeping the peace in the raucous party mecca.

Civil Guard boss Alejandro Hernandez said the extra officers would remain in place until at least October 15.

Speaking yesterday at the official launch of the force’s Ibiza summer security operation, “High Impact Zulu Bravo”, he said they could even be kept on past that date if necessary.

It would mark the first time this has ever happened in the history of the three-year-old operation, coinciding with the closing parties of the island’s famous clubs.

The GAR unit is a rapid action group whose officers are trained to deal with everything from nuclear threats to terrorist incidents.

Its officers were involved in the arrest in September 2022 of former Rochdale doorman Johnny Morrissey, an alleged key member of the bloodthirsty Kinahan Cartel led by Dubai-based Dubliner Daniel Kinahan.

Members of the special forces unit have also undertaken international missions in places like Kosovo and Haiti.

Another elite Civil Guard group, the GRS, is also being dispatched to the island as part of the reinforcements.

Its main role is to guarantee public order in “delicate” situations although members are also called upon to protect diplomats and high-ranking politicians.

Police have not gone public with the number of reinforcements.

But Mr Hernandez, the Civil Guard’s top man in Ibiza, said: “It’s an important-sized group for the island and sufficient to carry out the missions they are given.

“This year they are going to remain in Ibiza almost a month longer and that can be extended again depending on the closing dates of the clubs.”

Sniffer dogs trained to detect explosives and drugs are being incorporated into the summer operation.

Police chiefs say a support group will ensure sex crimes are prioritised.

Alfonso Rodriguez, former mayor of Calvia which includes Magaluf and now a Spanish central government delegate for the Balearic Islands, praised the impact of the the Zulu Bravo summer op.

He said: “It shows the commitment of the Spanish government to preserving the added value for our tourist destinations, which is safety and security.”

Yesterday’s launch coincided with police confirming detectives had arrested eight people in the Ibizan party resort of San Antonio over the weekend.

The individuals were apprehended on suspicion of selling deadly laughing gas to British tourists.

A Civil Guard spokesman said bottles of nitrous oxide had been seized along with cash from sales of the banned substance.

The spokesman said: “These types of operations will continue throughout the summer to protect public health and guarantee the safety of residents and tourists in the area.”

Young Brit tourists covered in foam while enjoying a holiday on the Spanish island

A group of tourists was seen walking around in Palma wearing just bikinis

The tourist was seen wearing nothing but a pair of trainers and a hat

The party resort of Magaluf was the chosen venue on Tuesday for the presentation of the Civil Guard summer reinforcements for neighbouring Majorca.

Officials revealed drones would be incorporated into its version of High Impact Zulu Bravo.

The tackling of sex crimes has also been made a priority.

A court in Palma is still investigating the alleged gang-rape of a British teenager last August which led to the arrests in Spain and France of eight suspects who were remanded in custody.

Reports yesterday claimed British bobbies would be dispatched to Majorca to help the Civil Guard this summer.

The head of the citizen security brigade, Fernando Corchero, said on Monday that officers from overseas such as the UK are due to arrive to help reinforce different police stations in the Balearics, the Majorca Daily Bulletin reported.

But island sources said today they knew of no plans for UK police to be dispatched to Majorca.

One well-placed police source said: “There are no current plans for British bobbies to join police in Magaluf this summer that we’re aware of.”

Another said: “The British Ambassador to Spain was asked whether UK officers would be coming to Magaluf again this year during a recent visit to Majorca and his response indicated it wasn’t on the cards.”

The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) did confirm to The Sun that a request had been submitted for officers to be sent to Majorca, but it was declined.

Spanish and Brit cops had previously joined forces in Majorca in recent years[/caption]

Two Birmingham-based bobbies spent a week patrolling the streets of Magaluf in a 2015 experiment before heading to San Antonio in Ibiza[/caption]

However, there are currently no plans to send British reinforcements to the Spanish islands[/caption]

“We did receive a request but given the prior commitments to the Euros and the Olympics, we declined,” a spokesperson said.

It comes as Magaluf has slashed its Red Zone that was marked by restrictive booze laws set to limit rowdy Brit revellers.

The toughened-up regional government restrictions were announced last month to curb some of the worst tourist-hit areas in parts of Majorca and Ibiza.

The Balearic government’s decision to reduce the prohibited area comes as the party town became “half empty” after weeks of anti-tourism protests.

Authorities previously introduced toughened-up restrictions in the sunny holiday hotspot to stamp out tourist bad behaviour.

News rules including a “total ban of the sale of alcohol between 9.30pm and 8am” in shops in areas of excessive tourism were approved just last month.

However, amid the raging anti-tourism protests in the Balearic Islands, the number of tourists visiting the holiday islands has reduced drastically – affecting the local economy.

This forced the lawmakers to reduce the restrictive area to almost 90 per cent.

Spanish lawmakers who proposed to slash said: “[We are] defending tourism businesses against the attempts of the socialists to damage the image of the municipality.

“The town hall is committed to positioning Magalluf as a safe and quality tourist destination.

New rules in the Balearic Islands

THE Spanish government has some strict rules in place for those visiting Majorca, Minorca and Ibiza.

Certain restaurants have dress codes, banning tops without straps, swimwear or football kits.

Holidaymakers can also be fined for walking around topless or in a state of undress while not on the beach.

You could even get into trouble for driving topless.

At some hotels, men might have to wear proper trousers for dinner.

Authorities in Majorca are cracking down on tourists by imposing fresh bans on drinking on the streets and graffiti.

Any tourist breaching the new rules could be slapped with a fine of £1,300.

The penalty can be increased up to £2,600, in case the grounds of the offence are more serious.

Fines for graffiti, vandalism and loud slogans have also been increased to £2,600.

If minors are found to commit graffiti vandalism, their parents will be held responsible – and will be forced to pay the fine.

Flooding the streets with banners, posters and advertising brochures is now prohibited.

Destroying listed buildings, monuments, and other important public areas would be considered a serious offence – and could attract fines of up to £2,600.

“The socialists want to maintain the stigmatisation of bars, restaurants and supermarkets, causing a large area to be harmed.”

However, many Spanish politicians have criticised the decision to reduce the area of Magaluf.

Alfonso Rodriguez, former mayor of Calvia, said it sent out the wrong message in the fight against boozy tourists and could lead to things worsening.

He added: “We believe that this is going in a different direction to the one we were committing to, where we were asking for cooperation from the entire tourist industry and the public sector to combat the excesses we were seeing.

“The last tourist seasons have been successful, both 2022 and 2023, and I fear that modifying this zoning could send a message in the opposite direction to the one we were heading in.”

Elsewhere, anti-tourism protests continue to erupt across multiple European holiday hotspots as locals call for an end to “low quality” tourism.

Residents complain of shameful acts by tourists such as the display of nudity and frequent violent brawls after getting drunk.

Hordes of protesters recently took over Majorca’s beaches in the latest efforts to squeeze out foreigners.

Pictures showed families and other locals gathered under umbrellas covered in the slogan “Ocupem Les Nostres Platges”, which translates into: “We occupy our beaches”.

However, tourist bosses in Majorca say they fear for their businesses if activists continue to stage protests aimed at driving out British visitors.

A charter boat owner revealed he had been getting emails from clients asking if it was still safe to visit the Spanish isle.

Anti-tourist measures sweeping hotspots

MAJORCA and Menorca are just some of the European hotspots implementing anti-tourist measures.

Many top holiday destinations across the continent are taking action to prevent unwanted travellers from taking over their towns and cities.

Locals feel they can no longer live in the iconic destinations because they have become overcrowded, unsafe and uncomfortable.

They say there are too many cars on the roads, traffic congestion, overcrowded beaches, blocked access roads, ruined beauty spots and just too many holidaymakers flocking to the island which expects record figures this summer.

In April, thousands of people took to the streets in Tenerife to demand restrictions on holidaymakers after telling Brits to “go home”.

The anti-tourist hordes filled a square in the capital brandishing banners including some that read “You enjoy we suffer” in English.

Protests also took place at the same time on other popular Canary islands including Lanzarote and Gran Canaria.

The marches were organised under the slogan “The Canary Islands have a limit.”

Hotel bosses in Benidorm have even admitted they are “very worried” by the anger growing amongst island residents but branded holiday homes in Spain a “virus”.

More recently, the Committee on Tourism, Trade, Employment, Culture and Sport reportedly approved an initiative to reintroduce a cap on cruise ships to Palma, Majorca’s capital.

Politicians are keen to implement a new set of rules on cruise ships in terms of taxation, the environment or the use of less polluting fuels to lower numbers coming into the Balearics.