On Tuesday, police provided support to Palma municipal workers sent in on one of the periodic operations to demolish illegal structures in the Son Banya shanty town.
The principal targets were shacks used for the sale of drugs. But as a result of the operation, Palma Town Hall's municipal nursery now has 280 Washingtonia palm trees, valued around 100 euros each, and four olive trees with a combined value of some 10,000 euros.
While demolishing six shacks, numerous flower pots were also discovered, part of a scheme to give Son Banya a less intimidating atmosphere. The drugs clans had decided to create a sort of landscaped garden in the area where drugs are sold.
Sources from Palma Police say the latest generation of clans' leaders believe they can do whatever they want in what is commonly referred to as Mallorca's 'drugs supermarket'. "They want people to come here without fear, day and night, and do away with an image of the shanty town full of garbage, burned-out cars and rats.
"These are now their marketing tactics. Previously there were Spanish flags and neon lights. Then they put up logos of the main football teams in an attempt to please everyone." When the town hall removed of all that, they came up with the idea of a large garden.
The operation, which had started early in the morning, didn't end until the evening. By which time, according to a town hall source, the dealers were getting impatient and insulting the workers. "They were losing money, and they don't forgive that."