Abta plays down Ibiza drugs problem

Staff reporter IBIZA'S fears about the negative impact Thursday night's BBC documentary about the island's drug problem will have on tourism appear unfounded. Official complaints have been made with the British Ambassador in Madrid about the content of the Drugland documentary. Yesterday a spokesperson for the Association of British Travel Agents said that they had not received a single call from a concerned member. “There is always an element of drug abuse in every holiday resort in the world - apart from our own problems here in Britain - not just in Ibiza. What is more, in many cases the penalties for drug abuse overseas are much harsher than here in the UK. Our simple message to people is don't do it. “The documentary will have no negative impact on family holiday bookings to Ibiza,” the ABTA spokesperson said. The undercover filming not only featured drugs being dealt on the island but gangs from England being busted by the drug squad.