Overview

• A 280-space parking garage in Barcelona’s Hostafrancs district had been illegally occupied for over a year by individuals engaging in drug dealing and prostitution.
• Residents reported thefts, safety concerns, and unsanitary conditions, prompting an insalubrity investigation by the City Council following a La Vanguardia exposé on May 1, 2025.
• On May 5, 2025, the Guardia Urbana evacuated seven occupants without incident and identified them, with their need for municipal social services under review.
• The property owner, under City Council orders, has commenced cleaning, disinfection, and installation of private security to prevent further unauthorized access.
• The case highlights broader issues of urban precarity and tensions between public safety, property rights, and support for marginalized populations.