Drug deliveries by scooter and car: Raid in Foners raises new questions for police

Police halt delivery network: What was found in Foners

In the early morning, when the first fishing boats were still blinking in the harbour and a thin sea breeze wafted through the alleys, several patrol cars broke the quiet in the Foners neighbourhood. Residents report radio chatter, hurried footsteps on cobblestones and officers searching apartments. Seven people were arrested; in an apartment on Carrer de Foners investigators found cans and small packets containing cocaine, hashish and marijuana.

The central question: How could the system run for so long?

That is the guiding question occupying many here: how can a drug delivery service establish itself in a busy neighbourhood like Foners without being noticed earlier? Two things stand out: on the one hand the method of delivery — partly by car, partly by e-scooter — and on the other hand the use of mobile communication channels. Residents said that in the weeks before the raid they had increasingly seen quick stops and heard the buzzing of scooters in the side streets. Many are surprised that an organised trade could be behind those sounds.

Another, less discussed point is the spatial proximity: in districts with dense housing, storage and short delivery routes can be more easily concealed. A one-room apartment can be visited multiple times per night within minutes — this often goes unnoticed in large parts of the city.

The silent engine: messenger apps and the invisibility of logistics

The police emphasise that secured phones should now provide clarity. Encrypted messengers, customers' wishes for discretion and affordable e-scooters as a means of transport together form a hard-to-grasp infrastructure. Authorities run into two problems here: data protection and the technical challenge of reconstructing short-term courier routes. While cash purchases at a kiosk still leave visible traces, digital ordering produces almost no physical paper trail.

Added to this is a use of public space that is barely regulated. Shared e-scooters and private scooters mingle with pedestrians and tourists — short-term stops in side streets go unnoticed. This makes urban space attractive for illegal courier services.

What is often missing from the debate

Public discussion usually focuses on the police operation itself: arrests, raids, seizures. Structural questions receive less attention: how do low police presence in certain districts, precarious housing conditions or a lack of social services affect the emergence of such structures? And what role do sharing economy business models play when it comes to anonymity in inner-city transport?

There is also often a lack of transparent debate about the responsibility of landlords and property managers. Vacant spaces or poorly supervised rental properties can provide convenient storage locations — organised groups notice this quickly.

Concrete approaches: what could help now

The raid shows what the police can do — but it alone will not solve the problem. Concrete steps could include:

1. Increased foot patrols and local presence: Visible police presence in suspicious areas not only deters crime, it also provides short response times. Foot patrols hear noises, see stops and build trust with residents.

2. Cooperation between the city, mobility providers and police: Data on unusual rental patterns of shared scooters could help identify delivery chains — with clear data protection rules and judicial approvals.

3. Awareness-raising and simple reporting channels: Residents should know how to report observations anonymously. An easily accessible tip channel and regular feedback on submitted reports would increase the willingness to report suspicious activity.

4. Prevention through social projects: Young people need prospects. Job offers, leisure activities and neighbourhood initiatives reduce the risk of people drifting into small-scale seller networks.

5. Monitoring vacant properties and landlords: Municipal registers and inspection mechanisms could prevent apartments from being misused as storage — accompanied by legal clarity so legitimate tenants are not disadvantaged.

Looking ahead: court proceedings and the neighbourhood

The judiciary will now examine whether those arrested were part of a larger network or acted as local dealers. For the neighbourhood, the hope remains for more quiet — and the question of whether the operation was a one-off intervention or the start of a more sustainable strategy against drug trafficking in Palma.

At the end of the day, when the church bells of Palma ring briefly and the fishermen sort their nets, a quiet wish remains in Foners: less nocturnal buzzing, more security and a city where people can open and close their doors without worry.

Anyone who has observed something should, as always, contact the Policía Nacional — tips are often the first key to making invisible structures visible.