More than a hundred people evicted from an illegal campsite in Mataró
There are 85 people living there and fifty more wanted to register.
BarcelonaA large police operation is clearing a campsite located on rural land in Mataró this Monday morning. According to census data, 85 people are living there and another 44 are undergoing the registration process. However, more people are reportedly spending the night at this campsite, which Barcelona's first court of inquiry has ordered to be cleared. This decision comes after the Mataró City Council requested it due to the high risk of fire in the area. The police are not only clearing the campsite but are also investigating those responsible for managing the occupied plots.
The camp is located on the Mata road, occupies approximately 15 hectares, and has existed since at least 2021, when the City Council is aware of the first complaints from residents. The Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan Mossos d'Esquadra), the Civil Guard, the National Police, the Local Police, and municipal personnel are participating in Monday's operation. The council's latest move was that same August, when it approved a decree to close the space and requested judicial authorization to do so. Furthermore, in June, the company leasing the land was asked to voluntarily dismantle the settlement.
The land is owned by Inmobiliaria Mar, which leases it to two brothers who use the company Nayla BNS to operate the allegedly irregular business, subletting the space in small plots. In this regard, the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan Police) of the Central Area of Economic Crimes of the Criminal Investigation Division (DIC) and the Environmental Division carried out another operation this Monday, searching two homes and a business premises as part of an investigation into those responsible for managing the plots.
Space distribution
Regarding the intervention at the campsite, the Mataró City Council has activated 13 simultaneous inspection teams who, accompanied by local police officers, are carrying out the evacuation and identifying the main structures that pose a fire risk in the area, such as fraudulent electricity connections.
In total, the 15 hectares affected consist of a dozen properties subdivided into approximately 160 plots, half of which are considered second homes, some equipped with swimming pools and barbecues. The remaining large number of plots are occupied by vulnerable people, who receive on-site assistance from Social Welfare and Red Cross teams. The joint operation of all security forces consists of approximately 300 personnel.