49 police interventions at Muntaner drug flat this year

49 police visits in one year

A flat in a residential building on Carrer Muntaner in Barcelona has prompted 49 interventions by the Mossos d’Esquadra regional police so far this year. Most incidents involved fights, disputes and suspected drug possession, according to reports from local media citing community complaints. The situation has caused significant distress among neighbours in the Eixample district, with some installing surveillance cameras and hiring private security guards to patrol common areas overnight. Residents say they feel trapped in their homes and fear for their safety.

Political pressure mounts

Daniel Sirera, head of the People’s Party (PP) group on Barcelona City Council, publicly condemned the ongoing situation on Saturday. He urged Mayor Jaume Collboni’s administration to take immediate legal action to evict the occupants.

It is the city council’s responsibility to end the suffering of these residents. Forty-nine police interventions should be enough to show this is a serious public order issue.

Sirera highlighted that under Article 44 bis of Catalonia’s Law 18/2007 on the right to housing, a homeowners’ association can formally request municipal intervention when an illegal occupation severely disrupts community life. This provision allows authorities to fast-track eviction proceedings.

Collboni must side with the residents and instruct the city’s legal team to find solutions, not excuses.

Legal route available

The law, amended by Ley 1/2023 of 15 February, enables local councils to act swiftly in cases where unauthorised occupants are causing public disorder or endangering building integrity. The process begins when the property owners’ board files a formal complaint with the Ayuntamiento de Barcelona. Residents have already filed multiple police reports and complaints with city officials. However, no eviction has taken place, and the current occupants remain in the flat. While the city has not issued an official statement on this specific case, municipal services are empowered to initiate legal procedures under the cited legislation. In past cases on Carrer Muntaner, such as the recent forced eviction at number 28, coordinated operations involving the Guardia Urbana and social services have been deployed to resolve long-standing occupancy issues.

Primary sources: ${rpb.dspace.name}, boe.es, ${rpb.dspace.name}. Reported by lavanguardia.com, Mayka Navarro, Guillem RS, Jordi Ribalaygue, iberley.es, Tornos Abogados, Jordi Subirana.