As part of an offensive against drug trafficking that has resulted in a 19% reduction in its incidence in the past year, the streets of Benidorm were the site of a significant anti-drug operation last week, which resulted in scores of arrests.
The statistics of the municipality, which is the most afflicted by drug sales in the entire province of Alicante, are beginning to reflect the results of this sustained fight.
Police sources say that, despite the fact that it is the most affected area, “this is due to the fact that investigations are being conducted and arrests are being made; in areas where no work is being done, that statistic is zero, but that does not exclude the possibility of crimes being committed.” The presence of statistics indicates that we are conducting an intensive effort.
The 2025 Crime Report of the Ministry of the Interior indicates that drug trafficking offences in Benidorm decreased from 172 in 2024 to 139 in 2025, a 19.2% decrease. This reduction places Benidorm as the fifth municipality in the country with a population of over 20,000 that has most significantly reduced its drug trafficking incidence.
El Campello (-46.2%), Aspe (-45.5%), Jávea (-36.4%), and San Vicente del Raspeig (-22.2%) were the only four of the 26 municipalities included in the provincial report to experience a greater decrease than Benidorm in this category. By 2025, only 8 of the 26 municipalities were able to decrease their drug trafficking figures.
Pubs in the “English Quarter” have been the primary target of police pressure in recent months.
Police investigations have revealed that drugs are not only sold on the street, but also within the entertainment venues themselves, with the complicity of certain proprietors, whether voluntary or forced by extortion.
Consequently, these establishments employ “drug doormen”—individuals who, as security guards, are stationed at the entrances of pubs in the English region. These individuals are primarily of Russian and Romanian descent and are responsible for the distribution of drugs. According to police sources, the enhanced operations are a direct result of the exceptional coordination between the two current commissioners of the Local Police and the National Police.
The English area was the target of multiple raids by both forces over the course of several days last weekend as a consequence of this coordination. This action caught the attention of hundreds of British tourists who were present.
Officers conducted a search of the premises and pat-downs of customers at several of the most frequently visited establishments on the renowned Calle Gerona and adjacent streets during the operation to identify illicit substances.
With these operations, Benidorm deals a blow to the retail drug business and sends a warning to pubs and dealers who profit from the sale of small quantities inside their premises and tolerate the consumption of substances inside.
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