British workers say raids 'won't stop' Ibiza drug trade

Phillipa, 23, was in one of the flats raided during a drugs bust in Ibiza

Despite a wave of raids in Ibiza over the weekend, Newsbeat has been told the drugs trade on the island is stronger than ever.

Twenty-five people were arrested, some of them British students, as part of the crackdown on dealers.

The raids resulted in a haul of 38,000 ecstasy tablets, 4kg of cocaine, 250g of ketamine and seven pints of GHB.

Fifty grams of crystal MDMA and almost £50,000 in cash were also seized during the operation.

There are literally hundreds of young Brits working in San Antonio, which is packed with bars and nightclubs.

They hand out flyers to the various nights taking place around the island, or try to lure you into bars on the promise of cheap drinks.

It is here that some of the drugs busts took place over the weekend.

Phillipa, 23, was a witness in one of the flats that was raided.

She told Newsbeat: "They kicked the door down and came running at everyone wearing balaclavas and with guns.

"They got everyone on the floor with handcuffs, the people who had drugs were taken off, the rest of us were released. It was really scary."

'No effect'

Police planned the raids during the summer to catch UK gangs.

Detectives raided several resorts and arrested Britons from London, Manchester and Newcastle as well as two people from Ireland.

The raids resulted in a haul of 38,000 ecstasy tablets and 4kg of cocaine

The arrests in Ibiza were part of a joint operation by the UK's serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) and the Spanish national guard.

However, despite the busts, Phillipa thinks they will have little effect on the amount of drugs Brits take on the island.

Speaking outside the flat where the raid took place, she said: "I think it was quite a big deal because it was a bad thing to happen.

"Anyone else who wasn't part of it will think it will be in the news for a couple of days then it will be forgotten and everyone will carry on again."

'Regular thing'

Most of the other young British workers on the island appear to agree.

Phil is from the Wirral and sells parasailing trips on the island and has been on the island for 17 weeks so far this year.

He reckons the market for drugs in Ibiza is huge.

Jasmine and Phil both work in Ibiza and say the drug trade is huge

Newsbeat asked him what proportion of British holidaymakers took drugs on the island: "I would say between 80 and 90% certainly. Yeah, definitely.

"A lot of people come here who have never taken drugs, you see the change in people. They're oblivious to it. It's sad."

When asked if the raids could change things he replied: "I don't think it will have any impact at all."

Jasmine from Leicester is a club promoter on the island.

She agrees with Phil. "Drugs are just a regular thing," she admitted. "It's everywhere really, everyone is selling it, literally everyone is selling it. It's everywhere."

She estimated the percentage of young British holidaymakers who take drugs in Ibiza is "around 97%" and reckons the busts might have a small effect, but one that definitely won't last.

"It might slow it down for a day or so," she said. "But there's always new people bringing stuff over.

"It's not going to affect it at all, no way. It's what it's about here, drugs and music."