Dark Side of Ibiza: How Drug Cartels Battle for Millions of Tourists.

According to The Sun: Every year, about 90,000 Britons travel to Ibiza, making this Spanish island a major destination for parties in the Mediterranean. However, with the high demand for drugs, international gangs emerge, fighting fiercely for a share of the deadly billion-dollar market.

In September of last year, Spanish law enforcement seized drugs worth over 25 million euros (£21.1 million) during special operations in Ibiza and Málaga, including 212 kg of ketamine, 73 kg of MDMA, 20 kg of cocaine, 21 kg of pink cocaine, and over 1 million ecstasy tablets.

In October 2023, a Colombian network was uncovered, employing truck drivers for drug trafficking to the Balearic Islands. In 2022, British expatriates were arrested during operations against pink cocaine.

Drug Situation on the Island

The police believe they can only seize 30% of the drugs that reach Ibiza, while 70% reach consumers. Traffickers hide drugs in submarines and speedboats, impregnate cocaine paste into blankets, or even conceal them in bananas.

In the documentary 'Ibiza Narcos,' locals reported on dismembered bodies in tourist areas, and a British supplier described how he survived after being shot in the head.

Since the 1970s, Ibiza has been a retreat for European drug addicts, with hippies coming here to smoke hashish and take LSD. By the late 1980s, clubs began to open for parties, and ecstasy became the number one drug. Today, cocaine is the biggest problem on the island, with rescue teams overwhelmed due to overdoses or intoxication.

The Story of Danny Gould

British DJ and club promoter Danny Gould, who admits he was once part of this issue, shares his story.

I have survived millions of bad moments, paranoid states, psychoses, fights with imaginary people, accidents and was almost dead

Danny Gould

Danny, who hails from Wansted in East London, first came to Ibiza at the age of 17 in 1989 and still performs on the island. His career began in 1994 at the famous club Es Paradis, and he says he was in 'Nirvana,' where he could drink and consume anything he wanted.

No one believed that Martin would become a victim. But in August 2003, after consuming a drug mix, he woke up feeling terrible and eventually decided to quit drugs forever.

Danny says: “I never liked them, but I was addicted to them. It got worse in Ibiza because drugs were everywhere.”

Now, being completely sober, he enjoys the beauty of Ibiza, practices yoga, and sees the island in a new light, appreciating its true natural beauty.

The drug situation in Ibiza remains complicated. The island continues to attract tourists, but the risks associated with drug use are becoming increasingly evident. More attention is needed on your safety and health programs to maintain the atmosphere of celebration and entertainment in Ibiza.

Despite this dark side, Ibiza will remain a popular destination for many, but it is essential to be aware of the reality behind its eternal parties.