Dramatic scenes returned to Benidorm on Thursday night as a popular bar was surrounded by police on the resort’s party strip.

British revellers uploaded videos asking ‘what is going on?’ as multiple cop cars pulled up outside Morgan Tavern before roping off the area.

It is not clear whether the search of the premises was routine or part of a wider investigation.

The Spanish Eye has contacted Morgan Tavern and the Policia Nacional for comment.

It comes amid growing calls among both British tourists and locals for the area to be cleaned up.

A number of holidaymakers feel crime and drug dealing in the resort have grown out of control in recent years.

Last summer, Spanish Eye reporters were openly offered ‘Charlie’ (cocaine) by employees of multiple bars and nightclubs, suggesting drug networks operate with near impunity.

It appears those days may be coming to an end, however.

This week it emerged police arrested 80 people for their alleged involvement in an organised drug-dealing network operating inside nightlife venues in Benidorm.

The massive operation targeted small-scale drug trafficking in one of the city’s busiest entertainment zones and uncovered a gang allegedly linked to violence, intimidation, weapons and coordinated surveillance of police patrols.

According to the Policia Nacional, suspects used walkie-talkies to warn each other whenever officers approached the area, allowing venues to temporarily halt alleged drug sales and hide illegal activity before inspections.

Investigators say members of the network had even assigned nicknames to different types of police officers depending on whether they were in uniform, undercover or belonged to the Policia Nacional or Local Police.

The operation resulted in the arrests of suspects aged between 18 and 82.

Among those detained were two businessman brothers who allegedly owned or managed several nightlife venues, as well as another pair of brothers accused of controlling security and public relations operations across the establishments.

Police say the organisation operated in a highly coordinated way, with lookouts stationed outside venues monitoring police movements and communicating through radio systems.

Investigators also allege that some security staff and public relations workers directed customers towards specific drug sellers inside the venues, including bartenders allegedly involved in supplying narcotics.

Authorities also linked the venues to numerous violent incidents, including fights and mass brawls involving machetes, knives and blunt weapons.

One of the most serious incidents occurred when several Local Police officers were allegedly threatened and harassed by people connected to the venues during an inspection.

Police say the intimidation campaign was retaliation for previous arrests, raids and drug seizures carried out in the area.

The large-scale crackdown involved officers from multiple police divisions, including judicial police, immigration units, regional police attached to the Valencian government and Benidorm’s specialist response units.

During two nights of coordinated raids, officers inspected seven nightlife venues.

The first phase of the operation led to 53 arrests and the seizure of:

• more than €32,000 in cash
• 40 walkie-talkies
• 16 mobile phones
• pepper sprays
• a brass knuckle weapon
• hidden drug storage boxes
• cocaine prepared in individual doses
• ecstasy
• marijuana
• cutting agents

A further 24 people were arrested during the second night of raids, while the two businessman brothers considered among the main suspects were detained days later.

Authorities say the investigation remains ongoing and one of the principal suspects has still not been located.

All 80 detainees were released after giving statements, with the case now passed to an investigating court in Benidorm.