Ibiza Mayor Rafa Triguero has called for prudence and respect for Ana Ferrer and her family after the PP councillor submitted her resignation following the detention of her husband in a major investigation into alleged drug trafficking and money laundering.

Triguero said on Monday, October 5, that Ferrer's decision was a personal and family matter and stressed the need to avoid conclusions before the judicial investigation has reached its conclusion.

Ferrer has submitted her resignation in writing, but the process has not yet been completed and she remains a councillor until the resignation is formally processed.

Triguero Says the Decision Was Agreed Last Week

Triguero explained that he spoke with Ferrer during the previous week, before the full details of her husband's detention became public.

According to the mayor, Ferrer shared some of the information available to her at the time and the two subsequently agreed that she would resign from the municipal council.

Triguero said the decision reflected Ferrer's own wishes.

The resignation was subsequently submitted in writing to the Ayuntamiento de Eivissa.

The mayor said the formal process will take some time because the resignation must first go before the municipal Plenary and then be followed by the corresponding procedure with the Electoral Board.

Ferrer Is Not Identified as a Suspect in the Investigation

The criminal investigation concerns Ferrer's husband, José Luis Cortés Cortés.

Cortés was one of four people detained in Ibiza as part of a joint Policía Nacional and Guardia Civil operation coordinated by Europol.

The Interior Ministry says the wider investigation resulted in 27 arrests, including 26 in Spain and one in the Dominican Republic. Authorities attribute alleged offences including drug trafficking, money laundering and membership of a criminal organisation to those detained.

There is no information in the official material reviewed identifying Ana Ferrer as a suspect or defendant in the criminal investigation.

That distinction is important. Ferrer's resignation follows the circumstances surrounding her husband, but it should not be interpreted as evidence of any involvement by her in the alleged criminal activity.

Mayor Calls for Prudence

Triguero said he wanted to be particularly cautious because the judicial process is still underway.

He referred to the impact the situation is having on Ferrer and her children and called for prudence until the investigation and judicial proceedings establish the relevant facts.

The mayor also said that the full scope of the case is not yet known.

His comments came after Ferrer's resignation became public and amid political debate over her continued position at Ibiza Town Hall.

The Wider Investigation

The operation involving Cortés is being directed by the judicial authorities of the Audiencia Nacional and the Fiscalía Especial Antidroga.

According to the Interior Ministry, investigators allege that an international criminal organisation introduced cocaine into Europe from Colombia and Panama and used luxury real estate structures to launder proceeds.

The investigation has involved operations in several locations, including Ibiza, Madrid, Málaga, Almería, Pontevedra and León, as well as the Dominican Republic.

Authorities carried out 38 searches and blocked assets including bank accounts, companies and properties.

These are allegations being investigated by the authorities. The arrests and asset seizures do not in themselves establish criminal responsibility.

Political Pressure Came Before the Resignation

Ferrer was also facing political pressure before the resignation was formally announced.

The Ibiza Socialist group had called for her to leave her municipal post after the detention of her husband, while acknowledging that there was no information linking Ferrer herself to the investigation.

That political request was separate from Ferrer's own decision to resign, which the PP has described as motivated by personal and family reasons.

What Happens Next at Ibiza Town Hall

Ferrer has now formally submitted her resignation, but the seat does not immediately become vacant.

Under the procedure governing the resignation of local elected representatives, the municipal Plenary must first take formal knowledge of the resignation. Only then can the process for filling the vacancy proceed.

Triguero has indicated that the procedure will therefore take some time.

The replacement will ultimately come through the electoral procedure applicable to the municipal list from which Ferrer was elected.

Until those formal steps are completed, Ferrer's resignation should be described as submitted rather than as an already completed change in the composition of Ibiza Town Hall.

A Case Still Under Investigation

The situation places Ibiza Town Hall in the middle of the public consequences of a major criminal investigation, but the mayor has urged caution while the judicial process continues.

Ana Ferrer's resignation is a political and personal decision. The investigation into her husband is a separate judicial matter.

At present, the confirmed developments are that Ferrer has submitted her resignation, Triguero says the decision was agreed with her during the previous week, and the formal municipal process to make the resignation effective has yet to be completed.

The criminal investigation involving her husband remains ongoing, and any determination of criminal responsibility will ultimately depend on the judicial process.