The DNA Mediterranean Yachtsmen’s Association has been at the center of a controversy after announcing that Bartolomé Albons Monserrat, a historic Mallorcan drug trafficker, has been appointed president. Albons, 68, has been convicted multiple times for drug trafficking over four decades, a record that now calls into question the suitability of his leadership of an organization that represents 650 members linked to recreational boating in the Balearics.
A past that does not go unnoticed
Albons’ record includes his last conviction in 2010, when he was sentenced to four years in prison for trying to smuggle 10 kilos of heroin into Mallorca from Cambrils. This episode adds to other major police operations in which he was involved, such as the 400 kilos of hashish stash in 1983 and the 3,450 kilos of hashish seized in Operation Ucifa in 1992. Despite having served his sentences and having worked on his social reintegration, the announcement of his appointment as president has caused a stir among the nautical sectors and public opinion. In a statement, the association describes him as a “veteran sailor” who will lead a “cross-cutting and varied” board.
A position under pressure
In a letter to the board of directors, Albons has acknowledged the weight of his past and placed his position at the organization’s disposal. “I served my last sentence and have since dedicated my life to social integration and my passion for sailing,” he wrote. He also criticized the lack of true reintegration into society: “We fill our mouths with words like integration, but the reality is that we are scarred for life.” The now former president expressed his pride at having been elected, but also showed understanding in the face of criticism. Hours after the controversy broke out, he officially tendered his resignation.
The impact on the Navigators’ Association
ADN Mediterráneo, which represents recreational boaters in meetings with the Balearic Government in the Mesa Náutica, now faces the challenge of overcoming this reputational crisis. The organization had stressed that Albons was the only candidate presented after the resignation of the previous president, Alfredo Fuster. In the first quarter of the year, the association has planned activities such as the Fiesta del Navegante and talks on sailing, but these have been overshadowed by the controversy surrounding the appointment.
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