The anti-drug operation carried out on Thursday morning in the Palma shanty town of Son Banya has led to the arrest of “El Vito”, considered by the National Police and the Guardia Civil to be the most powerful drug trafficker in the town, according to information obtained by the Bulletin sister paper Ultima Hora. The operation, in which a hundred officers were involved, resulted in five arrests. Various drugs were also seized. The investigation remains open.
The investigation, carried out by the Narcotics Group I, with the participation of the Drug and Organised Crime Unit (UDYCO) and the Judicial Police of the Guardia Civil, places “El Vito” in a money laundering scam allegedly led by Stefan Milojevic and Gonzalo Márquez, according to police sources. The case remains under judicial secrecy.
Today's operation ended with the search of five homes and the dismantling of four sales points. Officers from the Palma Local Police also took part. In addition to the arrest of the man considered to be Son Banya's most important drug trafficker, four other people were also arrested.
Officers have taken up positions in the buildings that serve as sales points to secure them before they are inspected. As is usual in these cases, a National Police helicopter has flown over the area to monitor the various entrances and exits of the shanty town.
'El Vito' is a relative newcomer to the police, but he has been a household name in the Palma shanty town of Son Banya for many years. Aged 24, he has risen to become the new head of what is often referred to as Mallorca's drugs supermarket. His nickname perhaps makes him the obvious boss; it comes from Vito Corleone of The Godfather fame.
Passionate about high-powered cars, he has an Audi RS3 and a Golf R, a remarkable thing about him is that he has no police record. There have been various rumours as to why this might be. It was said some months ago that the clans in Son Banya were cooperating with each other. Up to a point they were. Nevertheless, five of the drugs barons were vying for supremacy. Mounting competition led on one occasion to sabotage, and out of this competition has emerged El Vito.
Under El Vito's 'management', the price of a gram of cocaine has been capped. It is sixty euros, as it has been for a number of years. How a gram is cut is another matter. There is also a certain 'modernisation' in the form of improvised bars for the clientele.
Son Banya itself and the gypsy clans' hold over the drugs trade are both under threat from competition elsewhere in Palma and in Manacor. Eastern Europeans, Moroccans, Colombians are grabbing power from the gypsies. Most of the barons no longer live in the shanty town. They've moved out to estates they have acquired in other parts of Palma as well as in the likes of Sineu.