Sant Josep Local Police used a drone equipped with a thermal camera to locate the meeting point for a suspected unauthorised villa party before the event could take place.

The operation, made public in September 2026, began after officers detected an invitation circulating through a WhatsApp broadcast group advertising a birthday party at a private villa in the municipality.

Police said the event was advertised as invitation-only and included music, a swimming pool and performances by several DJs.

Drone Used to Locate Meeting Point

According to the police operation described by Sant Josep authorities, officers first identified the invitation and its location information.

A drone equipped with an infrared or thermal camera was then deployed from the Local Police headquarters to search for the meeting point.

The surveillance covered several areas of the municipality before the drone identified a vehicle in the car park near CEIP L'Urgell.

The location had previously been identified as a meeting point associated with access to villa parties in the area.

Suspected Organiser Identified

Police said the driver of a vehicle at the meeting point appeared to notice the drone and initially left the area.

A Sant Josep Local Police patrol was approaching the location at the same time.

The driver subsequently returned to the car park, where officers identified him.

Police then carried out a roadside drug test, which returned a positive result. The positive test is a fact reported by the police operation, but it does not by itself establish what substance was involved or constitute a criminal conviction.

Party Stopped Before It Could Take Place

After dismantling the planned meeting point, officers proceeded to the location of the proposed villa event.

The party was prevented from going ahead.

Police said the operation was part of their efforts to detect and prevent parties held in private homes or other spaces without the required authorisation.

Sant Josep Local Police has argued that these events can create issues beyond noise, including traffic and parking problems, safety concerns and impacts on neighbouring residents.

Invitation-Only Does Not Mean Authorised

One of the points highlighted by Sant Josep police was that describing a villa party as “invitation only” does not automatically make the activity an authorised private event.

Police said that sharing a location and restricting attendance to invited guests does not turn a private residence into an authorised venue for public entertainment.

The authorities have increasingly focused on the organisation and access arrangements surrounding villa parties, including the use of designated meeting points where guests are collected before being taken to properties.

A Wider Focus on Villa Parties

The September operation comes after several interventions involving suspected unauthorised villa parties in Sant Josep during summer 2026.

In July, the municipality reported that police had dismantled a suspected unauthorised party at a property known as Casa Paola in the Es Cubells area, where more than 250 people were evacuated. The municipality said the property did not have the required authorisation for the activity.

That operation also involved meeting points near CEIP L'Urgell and on the Sant Josep road, which police said were being used to organise access to the property.

Police Say Surveillance Will Continue

Sant Josep Local Police has said it will continue acting against unauthorised parties in homes and other spaces.

The force said it would continue identifying and pursuing responsibilities relating to organisers and attendees and would use coordinated operations when necessary.

The September operation demonstrates how technology is now being incorporated into those efforts, with aerial thermal imaging used alongside officers on the ground.

For Ibiza, where large private-property events have become an increasingly visible part of the summer nightlife landscape, the operation is another indication that authorities are paying closer attention to how these gatherings are organised and accessed.