A major scandal erupted in early June 2025 in the small Galician town of Narón in northern Spain. The controversy was sparked by a photo posted on the municipality’s official social media accounts, showing two local government officials posing with Laureano Oubiña—a man whose name has been linked to the drug trade in Galicia for decades.
The photo was taken at the town’s traditional honey fair. In the image, Oubiña stands at the counter of Perujito SLU, a wine company, flanked by two municipal officials: Manuel Antonio Ramos Rodríguez, who is responsible for public health, and María del Mar Gómez Casal, the fair coordinator. María holds Oubiña’s memoir, further fueling public outrage.
The post prompted an immediate response: the local branch of the Socialist party (PSOE) accused the city authorities of effectively giving the former drug lord a public platform, thereby disrespecting the victims of drug trafficking. According to the opposition, such actions contribute to normalizing the image of those linked to a criminal past, which is unacceptable for public institutions.
The municipality was quick to delete the photo, stating that it was published by mistake, and that Oubiña himself had allegedly requested to take a picture together. Authorities maintain they had no intention of promoting him or his products, and that Perujito SLU’s participation in the fair was organized by one of the subcontractors responsible for the event. Officials also emphasized that the same wine stand has appeared at other events in Galicia and beyond.
Meanwhile, the socialists insist that the situation requires a public apology and formal condemnation of the officials’ actions. They plan to raise the issue at the next city council meeting, seeking the resignation or at least public censure of those involved in the incident. Mayor Marián Ferreiro stated that the administration is considering possible measures in response to the opposition’s accusations, which she described as excessively harsh.
Public opinion in Narón is divided: some residents believe the authorities made a serious mistake, while others feel the scandal has been blown out of proportion. One thing is clear—the story about the photograph has once again brought up the sensitive issue of drug trafficking in Galicia and the importance for local officials to be careful with public gestures and symbols.
