Britons charged over Ibiza drugs


Spanish police raided seven properties

Twenty-five Britons arrested on the Spanish island of Ibiza on Friday have been charged with drug offences.

The suspects, who are from Liverpool, are accused of mounting what local police say was the island's "most active" drug-dealing operation.

In a series of raids police seized 23,000 ecstasy tablets, two guns and account books and cash worth £50,000.

The drugs were allegedly distributed in bars and clubs by staff, including waitresses and go-go dancers.

In a detailed statement, Spain's Civil Guard police said an expat gang had been under surveillance since May, and that 25 Britons had been arrested in the belief that they were about to leave Ibiza.

The drug-dealing operation is thought to have centred on a pub in the resort of San Antonio, a town popular with young British revellers.

The 18 men and seven women have appeared before a local judge and have all been charged with drug offences of varying degrees of seriousness.

Ten of the accused have been remanded in custody. The police say the gang had put in place substantial security measures to protect its Spanish operation from rival drug dealers - said to be from Manchester.

On Monday night the Foreign Office confirmed that a number of Britons were in custody in Ibiza.