Andorra Customs Removes Anti-Fraud Chief After Drunk Driving Crash in Official Vehicle

Andorra's Customs department has removed the 46-year-old head of its anti-fraud unit from service after he was arrested for drunk driving an official vehicle following a minor crash on the CG-3 road in Ordino over the weekend. Deputy director Vanesa García has assumed direct responsibility for his duties as the department operates with reduced leadership amid reorganization.

The officer, who works under Carles Ferreira in the Finance Ministry's Customs division, had been at a personal social event. He was driving an unmarked departmental car routinely assigned to him for any use, apparently returning home, when the property-damage accident occurred. Police traffic units attended the scene and administered a breathalyser test, which recorded 1.78 grams of alcohol per litre of blood—more than double the legal limit. He was charged with a crime against public safety, appeared before a judge the next day, and received a conviction via the fast-track penal ordinance process.

Government sources report he did not attend work on Tuesday and has been formally stood down pending review. Recent legal changes require the Justice system to notify Public Administration officials of case details for evaluation of any administrative breaches and potential sanctions. The badly damaged vehicle may be written off as a total loss, with insurers unlikely to cover costs due to the alcohol involvement.

The incident has generated significant tension within the public administration, particularly in Customs. Officials express hope that leadership will enforce rules decisively to safeguard the department's standing, amid worries over ingrained practices and shielded senior roles. Many see an opportunity to examine vehicle assignment policies, including usage conditions, eligibility, supplementary benefits, and internal promotion processes. Department and ministry heads are managing the matter cautiously while awaiting judicial updates on further steps. A disciplinary file is now open with Taxation and Public Service to determine sanctions, noting the crash occurred off-duty but involved a state vehicle.