There were no injuries, but the crossfire endangered the lives of the residents. The shooting occurred on May 12 in the La Mina neighborhood, in Sant Adrià de Besòs (Barcelona), where armed confrontations associated with drug trafficking have almost become part of the daily landscape. Two and a half months later, the Mossos d’Esquadra have arrested four people (three men and one woman) as alleged perpetrators of the shooting. The police also seized seven firearms: four pistols, a revolver, a submachine gun, and a shotgun.
The detainees are allegedly part of two groups opposed to each other for control of drug trafficking in this neighborhood historically burdened by poverty where about 11,000 people live. Shootings associated with these fights are increasingly frequent due to the groups’ access to firearms, which is of particular concern to the Mossos d’Esquadra. In 2025, according to data from the Catalan police, there were 93 shootings, representing a 45% increase compared to the previous year. These episodes pose a public safety problem, and the Mossos have carried out specific operations to try to contain access to weapons.
The May 12 shooting left about thirty bullet casings on the streets of La Mina. After a thorough investigation, the Mossos managed to identify the alleged perpetrators and, with judicial authorization, raided homes in Sant Adrià, Badalona, Barcelona, and Terrassa, as well as in Maçanet de la Selva (Girona) two weeks ago. The operation involved 150 officers, as well as the canine and drone units.
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The detainees are a 48-year-old woman and three men aged 64, 40, and 46 (the latter turned himself in at the police station days after the incident). Most of the firearms found were in bedrooms, ready to be used and without any safety measures. The Mossos also seized ammunition of different calibers, a bulletproof vest, extendable batons, bladed weapons, and about 40,000 euros in cash.
