Cartagena’s Local Police are closing in on the drinking parties and the gorillas

This summer, Local Police officers have increased their surveillance patrols in coastal regions of the municipality, including Cabo de Palos, La Manga, La Azohía, Isla Plana, El Portús, Cala Cortina, and the towns along the Mar Menor, to prevent the consumption of alcoholic beverages in public spaces and illegal parking. Additionally, their presence functions to fortify security in residential and bathing areas.

The City Council of Cartagena has bolstered the regular police service with support units, including the Special Citizen Security Groups (GOESC), the Aerial Means Unit (which includes drones), the Canine Unit, and the Maritime Service, which has jet skis at sea and all-terrain quads in the bathing areas, according to Councillor for Citizen Security José Ramón Llorca.

Municipal police are concentrating their efforts on beach areas, including La Manga and Cabo de Palos, in order to prevent the consumption of alcohol in public spaces. Alcohol consumption has been considerably reduced in areas such as esplanades and park-and-ride parking areas in commercial areas, as evidenced by the 14 complaints that have been filed for violations of the Alcohol Consumption Ordinance compared to previous seasons. Over the past two years, the Local Police have concentrated their efforts on these alcohol gatherings.

There were 96 seizures of money

Controlling the unlawful activities of undocumented parking attendants (gorillas) in the municipality’s numerous free parking zones has also been prioritised. In La Manga del Mar Menor, Plaza del Cavanna, and Plaza Bohemia; in Cartagena, Cala Cortina, Casa del Mar, and Plaza de La Isla. Four of the twenty-two individuals who have been identified have been arrested for violating the Immigration Law, and 96 of the proceeds obtained through this unlawful practice have been seized.

The Maritime Section has acquired two quad bikes and four jet skis, which have enabled officers to broaden their surveillance efforts to include the Calblanque Natural Park and the marine reserves of Cabo Tiñoso, Cabo de Palos, and Islas Hormigas during the summer season. Llorca emphasised the increased surveillance of the beach area.

This summer, the officers designated to this unit have conducted over 300 operations to enforce the municipal ordinance on the Good Use and Utilisation of Beaches, illegal fishing, and control matters related to the use of recreational boats. Following the expansion of their purview to the west coast this summer, their scope of action encompasses the entire Cartagena coastline, from the beaches of La Azohía and Isla Plana to the La Manga area, which includes the Mar Menor.