Irish holidaymakers heading off to Majorca and and Ibiza in Spain this summer are being warned after reports of people being injected with an unknown substance at numerous nightclub venues before being robbed.
Officers are looking into at least six cases of clubbers who had puncture wounds after attending busy venues while some claimed they also had valuables stolen. Police in Majorca reported that a man said he was injected with a substance in a club near the capital, Palma.
The man recounted noticing a small puncture wound on his leg while in the club after which he began to feel unwell when some of his belongings went missing. Meanwhile, The Guardia Civil is also looking at six other similar cases where the victims were women - four incidents were reported in Ibiza and two in Majorca.
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Although there have been no other cases reported in recent days, there is widespread fear among communities in these areas. The incidents have also sent shockwaves through the huge numbers of tourists and local revellers who flock to clubs and late-night music bars across the Balearic Islands, according to the Ultima Hora newspaper.
Police have warned anyone who suspects they have been injected to immediately inform security personnel at the venue and to stay with someone they know while medics are called. One woman, who claimed her friend was among the victims, told the Ultima Hora newspaper: "One night, while partying, she began to feel dizzy and had tremors. They told security workers and her friends who took her to the hospital.
"I'm always very careful because these things, unfortunately, happen very often," she added. Investigations carried out by the British Consulate in Palma found that the majority of incidents took place when the victims were alone, having been separated from friends.
UK Ambassador Hugh Elliott said: "The Balearics are a fantastic and safe destination, but we want to make sure that our visitors are aware of the local rules and know how to stay safe on a night out. We are working closely with the Balearic Government whose new measures include limiting excessive consumption of alcohol and anti-social behaviour.
"We all have a responsibility to know the rules, stick to them and ensure a great holiday for ourselves, and those around us." Meanwhile, the British Embassy in Spain introduced a "Stick With Your Mates" campaign to remind young tourists to take care while out partying on holiday.
It provides holidaymakers with tips on how to take care of one another and how to avoid serious accidents.
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