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The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
How Love Island resort has become ‘criminals' paradise' with knife-clad Rolex rippers, rapes & ‘open war' between gangs
WITH its sun-kissed beaches and chic capital city just a short flight away from the UK, Majorca is one of the most idyllic Mediterranean holiday hotspots. A favourite of A-list stars and royalty alike, celebs including Michael Douglas and 11 Majorca is one of the most idyllic Mediterranean holiday hotspots Credit: Getty 11 The luxurious Love Island villa in the Majorcan countryside Credit: Splash 11 Police officers during an anti-drug operation in the neighbourhood of La Soledad Credit: Getty 11 Last week reality star Vanessa Mariposa was left vomiting and unable to walk after she was allegedly spiked on a night out in Majorca Credit: Instagram / @vanessa_mariposa While Michelle Keegan and Mark Wright have even named their No wonder TV bosses chose the picturesque island as the perfect romantic back-drop for the Love Island But as the new series of the dating show Tourists have been victims of rape, daylight robbery and assault, while under pressure cops have already arrested 50 suspected pickpockets before the summer season has barely started. READ MORE FEATURES Last week a Austrian model Vanessa Mariposa, 32, was left vomiting and unable to walk after she was allegedly spiked on a night out in She said: "I was robbed - my Cartier bracelet was taken off my wrist and my SIM card was removed from my phone. 'I'm convinced the people who did this had far worse intentions... otherwise they wouldn't have drugged us or taken steps to stop us from calling for help.' Most read in The Sun The worrying attack comes as the local police union claimed the island is becoming a 'paradise for criminals' flaunting their shortage of personnel ahead of the holiday season, when Majorca is flooded with tourists. Cops claim their numbers have dropped in recent years and have called for back-up to help them take on the crooks targeting tourists. How Brit tourist hotpsots in Spain became rife with murders and butchery - V2 Luis Bernardo Fernandez, the provincial secretary for the Unified Association of Civil Guards (AUGC) in the He also said the rising number of illegal migrants reaching the islands meant already-stretched officers were being diverted away from other duties. And he described the increase in sex crimes, up more than five per cent last year, as 'extremely worrying'. Knife-wielding Rolex rippers 11 Thieves are arrested on the streets of Palma after robbing tourists Credit: Policia Nacional 11 Last year a Brit holidaymaker had his phone and a £100,000 diamond Rolex watch snatched off him while on a night out (pictured: a thief is arrested for robbery of a tourist's watch) Credit: Policia Nacional Official figures show more than 80,300 crimes in 2024 in the Balearic islands, 2.4 per cent more, while the national average fell by 0.3 per cent. Meanwhile a travel expert in Majorca is warning Brits to be on their guard as pickpocketing gangs are targeting visitors as they land at the airport and in supermarket car parks. Alex Smith has lived on the island for 20 years and runs popular blog She has warned of a crimewave sweeping the island as it gears up for summer. Alex says the thieves aren't just active in the popular party resorts of On her YouTube channel Alex warned: 'We are only one week into the summer holiday season, pickpockets are running rife around the holiday resorts right now. Pickpockets are running rife around the holiday resorts right now Alex Smith, local blogger 'We had pickpockets in Puerto Pollensa last year but they have been getting out and about. 'We're talking Alcudia, Calabona, Playa de Palma, Peguera, Antratx, and Formentor, and we're even talking supermarket car parks as well, or within supermarkets.' In recent years so-called ' Last year a Brit holidaymaker had his phone and a £100,000 diamond Rolex watch snatched off him while on a night out. And just last month the National Police Robbery Squad launched an investigation into the theft of a Richard Millie watch valued at £245,000 from a young man while he was walking in the centre of Palma. The brazen criminal approached the victim from behind, assaulted him and managed to steal his watch. In January two Chilean men were jailed for nine years and six years respectively for a series of robberies at luxury homes on the island. The two stole cash and valuables worth an estimated half a million Euros. Brits a target 11 Brit tourists are being targeted as soon as they arrive at the airport Credit: Getty 11 A robber caught on camera thieving from a tourist's hire car Credit: Policía Nacional But it isn't just the super-rich falling victim to the criminal gangs - Brits have reported having phones, cash and valuables stolen from their beach sunbeds as they sunbathe or take a dip in the sea. As well as thefts and burglaries there are even more serious crimes impacting tourists on the island. A The 30-year-old told detectives she agreed to go there in the early hours of the morning with a man she met and ended up agreeing to have sex with him, before a second man appeared on the scene and forced himself on her. They then fled the beach near Palma with her belongings, according to the holidaymaker. Also last summer a British teenager was allegedly raped after being plied with alcohol in a bar on the island. And a 21-year-old British tourist claimed she was raped by a man who intercepted her as she returned to her holiday apartment in Port D'Antratx after a boozy night out with friends. Police later arrested a 40-year-old Senegalese man. The previous summer an 18-year-old British girl was allegedly gang-raped by eight men at a Magaluf hotel. Seven French men and one Swiss are still in prison awaiting trial. Last week police arrested a Senegalese man accused of stabbing a young Dutch man in the back in Playa de Palma after being kicked out of a bar. I was robbed - my Cartier bracelet was taken off my wrist and my SIM card was removed from my phone. I'm convinced the people who did this had far worse intentions Vanessa Mariposa The victim had to be hospitalised in Son Espases with a punctured lung. The suspect was charged with attempted murder. Police have already had their work cut out this year, despite the summer season only just getting underway. Nearly 50 pickpockets and petty thieves targeting tourist victims have been arrested in the past month by police in Majorca who have drafted in early reinforcements to tackle an expected summer crimewave. National Police on the holiday island announced last month that they had brought forward 'Operation Summer' by bringing in extra officers from the mainland specialising in 'prevent and rapid response' crimefighting to work along town hall-employed local police. A spokesman for the force in Majorca said: 'They will serve on the island for a month as a prelude to the incorporation of other units who will work in the municipality of Palma ahead of the arrival of reinforcements in Manacor in Majorca, Ibiza and Menorca.' A National Police spokesman said that the arrests included pickpockets and someone wanted for drug trafficking. They also seized cash, ID documents and high-end stolen items including designer sunglasses. But with the island proving to be a lucrative hunting ground for criminals, it is unlikely that they will go quietly. Violent clashes 11 Many of the Algerian immigrants appear to have arrived on the island in small boats. Pictured: a rescue operation after a boat carrying migrants arrived in Palma Credit: AFP Last year a group of locals turned vigilante to tackle a group of Algerians who were alleged to be bringing violent crime to the island. Police were called to the Palma neighbourhood of Son Gotleu after a street fight involving around 50 people broke out. The clashes were described by one local newspaper as an "open war between racial groups". A band of locals - an unlikely union made up of Spanish gypsies, Morrocans and Africans - took it into their own hands to confront a squad of Algerians, who are said to have installed a reign of terror and have turned the neighbourhood into a breeding ground for violent crimes. Videos emerged depicting the violence of the clashes between the two troops, as well as efforts by the police to restore order. Many of the Algerian immigrants appear to have arrived on the island in small boats, prompting the Balearics President Marga Prohens to blame the lack of troops from the State Security Forces and Corps (FFCCSE) for the growing problem. She said: "The lack of FFCCSE troops is linked to difficulties in controlling the worrying crime data in the Balearic Islands. "As a government, we can only share the concern that this brings to citizens, especially when migrants arriving on the shores of the Islands face them with defiant and obscene gestures.' Around 2,000 migrants have arrived already so far this year. We have had so much immigration and there really aren't enough staff to deal with it Luis Bernardo Fernandez Mr Fernandez told The Sun: 'On the subject of immigration we have been overwhelmed. 'Around 2,000 migrants have arrived already so far this year. We have had so much immigration and there really aren't enough staff to deal with it. 'Police are moved from Majorca to the other islands of Ibiza and Formentera to help out. 'In the summer reinforcements are usually brought in to boost police numbers but what is happening is that not everyone can come because of the high rental prices. 'In Ibiza there's nowhere to live. In Majorca it's impossible. "There is all this talk of summer operations and reinforcements but there's always going to be a problem when there's no extra incentives for Civil Guard officers to come here, which is something we've been fighting for for years. 'As things stand today, the Balearic Islands are a place of punishment for officers who get transferred here. 'Nobody wants to come to places like Majorca because of the high cost of living and the fact officers don't get any extra wages or housing allowance of any kind. 'There is an increase in the number of officers but the ideal number of Civil Guard officers for the Balearic Islands should be around 1,730 and at present we currently have only around 1,200 to 1,300. 'We would need around 500 more and 500 are not going to come in the summer. 'The lack of police officers is definitely a factor that goes towards explaining these very concerning crime figure increases.' 11 Palma Port is a popular area with joggers, cyclists and boaters Credit: Getty 11 Mark Wright and Michelle Keegan named their daughter after the Majorcan capital
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Raids across Canary Islands in major cocaine gang bust
A major cocaine smuggling operation that used a network of speedboats to transport drugs from South America to the Canary Islands has been taken down, police have said. Almost four tonnes of cocaine trafficked from Brazil and Colombia were seized and 48 suspects, arrested in raids across Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote. Spain's Policia Nacional said the gang used 11 so-called narco boats to smuggle the drugs across the Atlantic in a complex operation that involved using an abandoned wreck at sea as a refuelling platform. Police forces from Europe, the UK, South America and the US were involved in planning the raids, dubbed Operation Black Shadow. The UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) confirmed that a British national was among those arrested. Europol said the gang used speedboats "repeatedly, departing from strategic points in the Atlantic Ocean to a mother ship transporting the cocaine". Investigators revealed the gang used "a complex encrypted communications system to evade law enforcement, including the use of satellite terminals, hard-to-trace phones and a coded language". Police said the raids were months in the planning and saw 29 properties searched, 69 vehicles seized - including boats and jet skis - and cash and firearms recovered. Details of the raids shine a light on the complexity of the networks international drug smuggling gangs use to get narcotics into Europe, a major market for South American-based cartels. Spanish police said the operation had "dismantled one of the largest criminal organisations dedicated to cocaine trafficking". The force also said it had identified a local network in the Canary Islands responsible for distributing the cocaine once it had arrived from South America. Footage of the raids published by Spanish police showed armed and masked officers raiding several houses, arresting suspects and carrying out searches. It is not the first time police have intercepted a large amount of cocaine bound for the Canary Islands, a Spanish territory and popular tourist destination lying around 100km (62 miles) off the west African coast. Police announced in December that they had intercepted a Venezuelan fishing boat 1,000 miles out at sea. It was discovered the vessel - which was so dilapidated it sank while being towed to shore - was carrying 3.3 tonnes of cocaine. Commenting on the latest raid, an NCA spokesperson said: "Alongside our international partners, we are relentless in our efforts to tackle drug trafficking across borders, ensuring it's seized before it reaches the UK criminal supply chain." Royal Navy warship seizes £30m of drugs Brits could face death over Bali drugs plot British woman accused of drug offences tells BBC of Sri Lanka jail conditions
BBC News
4 days ago
- BBC News
Canary Islands: 48 arrested in international cocaine gang bust
A major cocaine smuggling operation that used a network of speedboats to transport drugs from South America to the Canary Islands has been taken down, police have four tonnes of cocaine trafficked from Brazil and Colombia were seized and 48 suspects arrested in raids across Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria and Policia Nacional said the gang used 11 so-called narco boats to smuggle the drugs across the Atlantic in a complex operation that involved using an abandoned wreck at sea as a refuelling forces from Europe, the UK, South America and the US were involved in planning the raids, dubbed Operation Black Shadow. Europol said the gang used speedboats "repeatedly, departing from strategic points in the Atlantic Ocean to a mother ship transporting the cocaine". Investigators revealed the gang used "a complex encrypted communications system to evade law enforcement, including the use of satellite terminals, hard-to-trace phones and a coded language".Police said the raids were months in the planning and saw 29 properties searched, 69 vehicles seized - including boats and jet skis - and cash and firearms of the raids shine a light on the complexity of the networks international drug smuggling gangs use to get narcotics into Europe, a major market for South American-based cartels. Spanish police said the operation had "dismantled one of the largest criminal organisations dedicated to cocaine trafficking".The force also said it had identified a local network in the Canary Islands responsible for distributing the cocaine once it had arrived from South America. Footage of the raids published by Spanish police showed armed and masked officers raiding several houses, arresting suspects and carrying out is not the first time police have intercepted a large amount of cocaine bound for the Canary Islands, a Spanish territory and popular tourist destination lying around 100km (62 miles) off the west African announced in December that they had intercepted a Venezuelan fishing boat 1,000 miles out at was discovered the vessel - which was so dilapidated it sank while being towed to shore - was carrying 3.3 tonnes of cocaine.
The Sun
17-05-2025
- The Sun
Knifeman who tried to rob taxi shot and killed by cops after lunging at officer outside airport at Brit holiday hotspot
A KNIFEMAN who tried to rob a taxi and attacked a police officer has been shot and killed by cops at Gran Canaria Airport. It is understood that the man made numerous physical attempts to stab police with a "20cm" blade, reports the Canary News. 3 3 3 The shocking incident unfolded just before 5pm today in a busy public transport area outside the terminal, where tourists regularly hop into taxis and buses. The outlet reports that a man, of Gambian nationality, threatened a cabbie with a large knife near the bus stop before the terrified driver bolted into the airport screaming for help. Holidaymakers looked on in horror as Policia Nacional officers raced to the scene and confronted the armed suspect. The man did not comply with requests to stand down and instead charged at the officers with the knife, forcing them to open fire. One officer is said to have slipped during the scuffle, at which point the knifeman went for him. His colleague then fired several shots to stop the attack which fatally wounded the man. Emergency responders from both airport security and the Servicio Canario de Salud arrived rapidly and attempted resuscitation. Despite their efforts, the man was declared dead at the scene. His body remained at the location for over an hour as forensic and judicial teams documented the scene. Surveillance footage from the airport captured the incident and will be reviewed as part of the investigation. Gran Canaria Airport (LPA) handled nearly 14 million passengers in 2023, with peak footfall during the winter and summer holidays. The airport is one of Spain 's busiest and a favourite destination for millions of British tourists. The shocking incident happened in the ground-level zone used by both Global buses and taxis - a key area for arriving and departing travellers. Police have launched a full investigation and are reviewing CCTV, forensic evidence, and witness statements to determine whether the officers' actions complied with protocol. A judicial review is also underway.
The Irish Sun
17-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
Knifeman who tried to rob taxi shot and killed by cops after lunging at officer outside airport at Brit holiday hotspot
A KNIFEMAN who tried to rob a taxi and attacked a police officer has been shot and killed by cops at Gran Canaria Airport. It is understood that the man made numerous physical attempts to stab police with a "20cm" blade, reports the 3 Officers examine documents belonging to a man who was shot and killed by police Credit: Reuters 3 The man was said to have been carrying a 20cm knife Credit: Reuters 3 A full investigation is now underway Credit: Reuters The shocking incident unfolded just before 5pm today in a busy public transport area outside the terminal, where tourists regularly hop into taxis and buses. The outlet reports that a man, of Gambian nationality, threatened a cabbie with a large knife near the bus stop before the terrified driver bolted into the airport screaming for help. Holidaymakers looked on in horror as Policia Nacional officers raced to the scene and confronted the armed suspect. The man did not comply with requests to stand down and instead charged at the officers with the knife, forcing them to open fire. One officer is said to have slipped during the scuffle, at which point the knifeman went for him. His colleague then fired several shots to stop the attack which fatally wounded the man. Emergency responders from both airport security and the Servicio Canario de Salud arrived rapidly and attempted resuscitation. Despite their efforts, the man was declared dead at the scene. Most read in The Sun His body remained at the location for over an hour as forensic and judicial teams documented the scene. Surveillance footage from the airport captured the incident and will be reviewed as part of the investigation. Gran Canaria Airport (LPA) handled nearly 14 million passengers in 2023, with peak footfall during the winter and summer holidays. The airport is one of Spain's busiest and a favourite destination for millions of British tourists. The shocking incident happened in the ground-level zone used by both Global buses and taxis - a key area for arriving and departing travellers. Police have launched a full investigation and are reviewing CCTV, forensic evidence, and witness statements to determine whether the officers' actions complied with protocol. A judicial review is also underway.
