Sant Antoni de Portmany is continuing its surveillance of irregular settlements in rural and natural areas, with Policía Local dismantling three significant sites during the past month.

The latest interventions took place on the foothills of Sa Talaia, in a wooded area close to the boundary with Sant Josep de sa Talaia and near Sa Serra.

The operations form part of an ongoing municipal campaign targeting irregular camping, caravans, motorhomes and other vehicles being used as permanent accommodation in areas where such activity is not permitted.

Three settlements removed in the past month

Police identified and dismantled three settlements considered particularly significant during the latest phase of the operation.

One was located on the slopes of Sa Talaia in Sant Antoni.

A second was found in a wooded area close to the municipal boundary with Sant Josep de sa Talaia.

The third was located in the vicinity of Sa Serra.

The interventions continue the monitoring programme that was intensified during May and June before the start of the high season.

41 sanctions issued so far in 2026

The latest operations bring the number of sanctions issued by Sant Antoni Local Police since the beginning of the year to 41.

The sanctions relate to camping, the use of caravans and motorhomes and irregular settlements.

The municipality says surveillance is intended both to identify existing settlements and to prevent new ones from becoming established.

Rural and wooded areas under surveillance

Police have been monitoring a broad range of locations across the municipality.

These include rural roads, wooded areas, coastal sites and places that are difficult to reach by conventional patrol vehicles.

Specific areas mentioned by the municipality include Sa Talaia, Sant Rafel, Santa Agnès, Buscastell, Ses Variades, Sa Serra, Can Germà, Cala Salada, Punta Galera and the area around the Camí des Regueró.

Police drone used in the operation

The surveillance operation includes the use of a police drone.

The technology allows officers to inspect areas that are difficult to access from the ground and identify possible settlements or vehicles being used for accommodation.

The drone work complements patrols carried out by officers assigned to environmental and neighbourhood units.

Several police units involved

The operation is not being handled by a single police team.

The municipality says personnel from the Unidad de Medio Ambiente, Unidad de Proximidad and Agentes de Intrusismo y Convivencia are involved, supported by the police drone.

The combination allows officers to carry out preventive surveillance, identify possible infringements and follow up on locations where settlements have previously been detected.

Wildfire risk is a major concern

The presence of settlements in woodland and other rural areas is particularly sensitive during the summer fire season.

According to the municipality, the use of equipment for cooking, generating electricity or producing heat can increase the risk of a fire.

The accumulation of belongings and other combustible materials can also contribute to the danger.

With high summer temperatures and dry vegetation, the Town Hall says any fire in these circumstances could spread quickly through the surrounding natural environment.

The campaign began before the high season

The latest actions follow a preventive operation launched during May and June.

More than 30 interventions were carried out during those two months, according to the municipal information.

The aim was to identify possible settlements before the arrival of the busiest period of the tourist season and prevent them from becoming established in rural and natural areas.

The operation also covers caravans and motorhomes

The campaign is not limited to makeshift settlements.

Police are also monitoring caravans, motorhomes and other vehicles that may be used on a permanent basis as accommodation.

The municipality says particular attention is being paid to locations where these vehicles are parked or used residentially for extended periods outside authorised areas.

Residents' reports help identify locations

Sant Antoni Town Hall has thanked residents and other members of the public who report possible irregular settlements to the police.

Those reports can help officers identify new locations and focus patrols on areas where activity has been observed.

The municipality considers public cooperation an important part of the surveillance programme.

The issue extends beyond one part of Sant Antoni

The locations involved in the latest interventions are spread across different parts of the municipality.

Sa Talaia, the area near the Sant Josep boundary and Sa Serra represent different types of terrain, from wooded areas and rural land to sites with more difficult access.

The broader surveillance network reflects the municipality's intention to monitor potential settlements across the whole area rather than concentrate solely on one location.

A continuing municipal enforcement effort

The three latest removals are part of an ongoing enforcement campaign rather than an isolated intervention.

The 41 sanctions issued so far in 2026 provide an indication of the number of cases being addressed through the municipal operation.

The figure covers different types of activity, including camping, caravans, motorhomes and settlements, rather than representing 41 separate settlements.

Prevention remains a key objective

The municipality says the purpose of the operation is not only to dismantle settlements after they appear.

Officers are also trying to identify locations where new settlements could develop and intervene before they become more established.

This is particularly relevant in remote areas where access for emergency services can be more difficult and where the municipality considers the fire risk more significant.

Natural areas remain a particular focus

The operation places emphasis on areas with environmental sensitivity.

Woodlands, rural roads, coastal areas and other natural spaces are among those being monitored.

The municipality's stated concern is that irregular occupation in such locations can create additional pressure on the environment and increase risks linked to waste accumulation, heat sources and unauthorised accommodation.

The housing dimension is separate

The operation takes place against a wider housing shortage on Ibiza, where people working or living on the island face significant difficulties finding affordable accommodation.

However, the municipal enforcement programme concerns compliance with rules governing camping, settlements and the residential use of vehicles in rural and natural areas.

The existence of a wider housing problem does not by itself change the legal status of these activities.

No single group is identified

The municipality's latest information does not identify the people occupying the three settlements by nationality, employment status or other personal characteristics.

The focus of the official announcement is on the locations, the infringements being investigated and the environmental and safety risks associated with them.

It is therefore not appropriate to assign a specific demographic profile to the people involved without additional evidence.

The 2026 figure continues to rise

With 41 sanctions already recorded this year, Sant Antoni's enforcement campaign remains active as the summer season approaches its final weeks.

The municipality is continuing inspections in areas identified as vulnerable to new settlements.

Further sanctions or interventions may follow if additional infringements are detected, although no future number can be assumed.

What is confirmed

Three significant irregular settlements were dismantled during the latest month of operations.

Locations included Sa Talaia, a wooded area near the Sant Josep boundary and Sa Serra.

A total of 41 sanctions related to camping, caravans, motorhomes and irregular settlements have been issued in Sant Antoni during 2026.

The surveillance covers rural roads, wooded areas, coastal areas and difficult-to-access locations.

A police drone is being used alongside several specialist municipal police units.

The municipality identifies wildfire risk as one of its principal concerns.

Sant Antoni keeps the operation active

Sant Antoni's campaign against irregular settlements is continuing beyond the initial preventive work carried out in May and June.

The latest three interventions show that police surveillance remains active during the summer, while the accumulated 41 sanctions indicate that the issue extends beyond individual settlements.

For the municipality, the focus is on enforcing regulations in rural and natural areas while reducing the environmental and fire risks it associates with unauthorised occupation.

As the surveillance continues, officers are expected to maintain inspections across the municipality's rural, wooded and coastal areas.