Corona Daily 008: Want a Job in Ibiza?

Candidate and job description: A foreigner (from outside Spain), age 30-40. Should look like and dress like an obvious foreign tourist. Fond of disco music and dancing. Hang out in the island’s bars till 1 am when the curfew begins. (Drinks and food will be paid for).  

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For those who don’t know, Ibiza Island is Spain’s summer playground, famous for its night-clubbing. Like going to Las Vegas to visit casinos, foreign tourists arrive at Ibiza to spend nights in its clubs. In normal times, mega clubs such as Pacha or Hi Ibiza are visited nightly by thousands. Clubbers in Ibiza wake up at noon or later, again take an early evening nap; spend the night clubbing, followed by “disco sunrises”. For years, the local authorities have been trying unsuccessfully to introduce a law that will shut the clubs at 6 am, yes, six in the morning.

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Why are the Ibiza authorities desperately looking to recruit foreigners? The Delta variant has upset summer plans. Cases are rising, and Ibiza has imposed a strict curfew at 1.00 in the night. Most nightclubs are ordered shut. Some outdoor events are possible, but patrons are not allowed to leave their chairs, absolutely no dancing. Gatherings in restaurants and bars are limited to small numbers.

As a result of the covid restrictions, parties now happen illegally. Most parties happen in private homes, promoted through messages on social media. The fines for those organizing illegal parties are high - $700,000, but the parties haven’t stopped.

The 30-40 year old foreigners’ squad will be expected to keep their eyes and ears open. When they are in bars, innocently they will try to solicit invitations to those private parties. Bars and taxi stands are the two places where people gossip about the gatherings. It has become big business; some charge $60 as entrance fee.

Why can’t Ibiza’s own detectives or health inspectors do this job? Because their faces are known. The locals will view a known policeman dancing at an illegal party with suspicion. Ibiza officials have decided that the recruited foreign undercover agents will solicit invitations. Inform the police the details of the party, and then wait until the police arrive.

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Spain is a democratic country. The police don’t have the authority to enter a private home (even if the music is blasting) without a warrant. However, they are now trying to do it under the pandemic health regulations. Without private detectives, it is not easy to find those venues. Many of them are in secluded residences, away from main roads. If the police were to enter a house wrongly, it would result in bad media publicity as well as possible court cases.

Once the detectives alert the authorities, police will place themselves outside the planned house (this is lawful), and prevent people from joining the party.

The “party tracking project” includes getting the right information. The undercover agents will go to the parties to collect evidence (sale of tickets, alcohol, take photos of unmasked people, see if social distancing is observed). Ibiza police suspect some parties are organised by foreign business groups with great capacity for logistics.

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Ibiza law allows cutting power supply of a place. But it requires a notice of 48 hours. (By which time the illegal party is over). It is also considered a safety hazard. There may a stampede of people not very sober. Moreover, the Ibiza law enforcement has learnt there is nobody to talk to at 4 am to have the electricity supply cut off. Done without proper security or valid reason, cutting off power is considered a crime of coercion.

Local officials have concluded their best bet is the foreign detectives. The objective is to learn where the illegal parties are happening, place police outside, and prevent people from going in.

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If your age and spirit permit it, why not apply for the job? Ibiza is one of the paradises on earth.

Ravi