Traders and residents in Barcelona’s El Raval neighbourhood are demanding urgent action from city authorities following a violent armed confrontation on the Rambla del Raval this Friday at around 3:30pm. The incident, involving three individuals wielding knives and screwdrivers, resulted in one arrest by the Guàrdia Urbana, one suspect still at large, and one injured person taken to hospital.

The clash occurred just metres from the Baluard addiction care centre on Avinguda Drassanes, an area where open drug resale has become increasingly common. According to La Vanguardia reporting, users of the centre are selling prescribed medications, Lyrica and Rivotril, at prices of €2 and €1 per pill respectively. These drugs, which affect the central nervous system, are reportedly being used by young offenders to lower inhibitions before committing thefts and robberies.

We can’t go on like this. Customers are staying away, and we’re losing income every day. If nothing changes, we’ll have no choice but to close,

said Marta Sánchez, owner of a textile shop on Rambla del Raval, echoing concerns raised by other local business owners.

Police Reinforcements and Surveillance Expansion

In response to mounting pressure, the Ajuntament de Barcelona has announced a series of measures aimed at restoring public order. On 19 June 2026, Mayor Jaume Collboni confirmed plans to install 13 new surveillance cameras along the Rambla del Raval, with full operation expected by the end of the year. This is part of a broader rollout that includes 20 additional cameras in Plaça Reial and 12 already active along the Front Marítim near the beach.

The expansion is coordinated through the city’s newly established Guàrdia Urbana police station in El Raval, which opened as part of a wider strategy to improve local security presence. The force is also doubling patrols near the Baluard centre, with two dedicated units now operating daily from 10am to 10pm to curb street-level drug trading and associated disturbances.

A key obstacle remains the legal status of small-scale pharmaceutical trafficking. As noted in La Vanguardia, minor drug resales are not classified as criminal offences under current law, and prosecutors frequently recommend case dismissals unless large quantities are involved.

To address this, the city is finalising a municipal agreement with the Fiscalía to establish a dedicated local police unit embedded within judicial operations. This ‘Office Attached to the Prosecutor’ (Oficina Adscrita a la Fiscalía) aims to speed up investigations and strengthen penalties for repeat offenders. Early results from the pilot programme show improved coordination between law enforcement and prosecution services.

  • 33 new surveillance cameras planned across key areas in Ciutat Vella
  • Daily police patrols doubled around Baluard care centre
  • New police station operational in El Raval since mid-2026
  • Ongoing negotiations with the Fiscalía to reclassify minor drug resales

Primary sources: ajuntament.barcelona.cat, Ramon. Reported by lavanguardia.com, Arnau Raimundo, Elena Burés, elmundo.es, Germán González, elcatalan.es.