Ibiza to hire young detectives to find illegal parties

Illegal parties are often held in homes in the countryside and can draw more than 500 people

Ibiza is renowned for its nightlife, but the pandemic has put clubbing and private parties on hold.

The Spanish island Ibiza plans to hire young private detectives who can pass as tourists to help local authorities find out where private parties that flout virus restrictions will be held.

The Mediterranean island’s famous nightclubs, which attract famous DJs from around the world, are shut because of the pandemic, leading to a boom in illegal gatherings.

With Covid-19 infections surging on the island, the authorities are looking for detectives aged 30 to 40 who “find the parties before they start” and tip off police, said local government spokesman Armando Tur.

The gatherings are often held in homes in the countryside to evade detection and can draw more than 500 people, Mr Tur said.

Some are organised by “mafias”, which charge entry fees of about €100 ($118) per person and look for custom on social media or near bars, he said.

Ibiza has received several applications for the role from across Europe but it is interested only in hiring professional detectives, Mr Tur said.

The Balearic Islands, which include Ibiza, have one of Spain’s highest Covid-19 infection levels, driven by the more contagious Delta variant.

To curb the virus, late last month the archipelago’s government banned all gatherings between 1am and 6am of people who do not live together.

A student trip to the Balearic island of Majorca in June caused a major Covid-19 outbreak that infected thousands of people on mainland Spain.