Lorraine Williamson
Why is drug activity still finding its way into Spain’s busiest holiday streets? That question has unsettled many people in Benidorm’s centre in recent months. Furthermore, it has prompted a growing number of residents and business owners to contact the authorities. Their concerns triggered a police operation that has now led to the closure of two drug-trafficking points in one of the Costa Blanca’s most densely visited neighbourhoods.
Benidorm’s old town and Levante beach area are no strangers to crowds, nightlife, and seasonal surges in visitors. Yet alongside the holiday energy, locals had begun noticing a different kind of movement: brief, repetitive visits to certain premises, people entering and leaving within seconds, and behaviour that didn’t fit the rhythm of normal commercial activity.
These observations became the basis of a formal investigation by the National Police, who monitored the locations over several weeks. Patrols collected evidence, mapped the flow of visitors, and cross-checked reports with patterns seen in other Spanish cities where small drug outlets often disguise themselves behind ordinary shopfronts.
Coordinated intervention and arrests
The operation culminated in simultaneous raids. Inside the targeted premises, officers found quantities of cocaine and marijuana alongside cash believed to be linked to sales. Several suspects were arrested and transferred to police custody. Court proceedings are expected to follow as investigators continue analysing seized material.
Police sources stress that these small but active outlets often operate in central districts because of the heavy footfall, anonymity of tourists, and late-night commercial activity. Removing them, they say, is crucial to preventing wider criminal networks from taking root.
Protecting Benidorm’s image and residents’ peace
For a city where tourism underpins livelihoods, even minor criminal hotspots can cast a long shadow. Residents had complained of increased noise, suspicious behaviour outside premises, and a sense that the streets no longer felt as safe. Business owners feared reputational damage just as the winter holiday season approaches.
Benidorm authorities have made it clear they will not allow drug dealing to shape the narrative around the city centre. This operation forms part of a broader policing strategy aimed at keeping Spain’s coastal destinations welcoming. Especially at a time when European tourism remains highly competitive.
A model of cooperation
One detail has stood out in the aftermath: the role of residents and local businesses. Officers involved in the case say the investigation would not have advanced without consistent, detailed reports from the community. Their observations gave police the starting point they needed.
In recent years, Spain has strengthened community-policing programmes to encourage exactly this kind of cooperation. Benidorm’s latest operation is being viewed as a textbook example of what can be achieved when residents, businesses and police work in tandem.
Strengthening street safety going forward
Spain’s National Police plan to continue intensified patrols around Benidorm’s centre, particularly during peak tourist periods. Authorities are also reviewing whether additional surveillance or licensing checks are needed to ensure that similar points of sale do not reappear.
For locals, the closure of the two outlets offers reassurance that complaints are taken seriously. For visitors, it means the city is doubling down on its commitment to safety—an essential factor in maintaining the Costa Blanca’s global appeal.
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Reassuring a city that thrives on tourism
Benidorm’s popularity has always been tied to the promise of carefree holidays. By acting decisively against drug activity in its core streets, the city is signalling that it intends to protect that reputation—and respond swiftly when residents raise the alarm. The challenge now lies in keeping that momentum as visitor numbers continue to rise.
Source: Radio Sirena