Andorra Police Arrest 89 in Festival Drug Crackdown
Enhanced security operation during festivals led to two trafficking arrests and 87 possession cases, with significant drug seizures amid large crowds.
Key Points
- 2 trafficking arrests: 15g cocaine at border, 57 ecstasy pills + 18g cocaine at festival.
- 87 possession arrests: 35 at borders, 52 near festivals; most minor amounts.
- Seizures: 200+ pills, 80g cocaine, meth, hashish, marijuana, tusi, ketamine, LSD.
- Additional: 2 assault arrests, 7 drink-driving detentions; no major disturbances.
Andorra Police have wrapped up their enhanced security operation for recent festivals, reporting two arrests for drug trafficking and 87 for possession amid large crowds that gathered from Thursday to Sunday.
The operation involved routine public health checks at borders, intensified in the lead-up days. The first trafficking arrest occurred Tuesday morning at the France-Andorra border, where officers detained a 34-year-old tourist entering with 15 grams of cocaine.
The second took place Friday evening inside a festival venue—among Snowrow Festival, Maricóngelada, or Andorra Remember Festival. Suspecting drug sales, police approached a 28-year-old tourist, who assaulted an officer and fled. They intercepted him outside with 57 ecstasy pills and 18 grams of cocaine. He faces charges of trafficking as an offense against public health, resistance to authority, and injury to physical and moral integrity.
Possession cases numbered 87, with 35 at borders and 52 at or near festival entrances. Most involved minor amounts, except for four tourists—three aged 31 and one 65—from whom 41 ecstasy pills were seized.
Total seizures included about 200 pills, 80 grams of cocaine, over 35 grams of tusi, 36 grams of methamphetamine, nearly 21 grams of ecstasy, 130 grams of hashish, 40 grams of marijuana, traces of ketamine, and an LSD stamp. Most detainees were tourists aged 20 to 40.
The prior week brought four more border drug stops: a 46-year-old tourist Monday morning at the France-Andorra crossing with 1.2 grams of cocaine; a 53-year-old that afternoon at Riu Runer with 4.3 grams; and over the weekend, two others aged 35 and 36 at Riu Runer carrying 2.67 grams of cocaine, 0.87 grams of MDMA, 0.5 grams of ketamine, and 4.5 grams of marijuana.
Despite the crowds, no major public order disturbances occurred. Police made unrelated arrests for assaults—a 34-year-old man early Wednesday in Escaldes-Engordany for attacking his ex-partner following her complaint, and a 45-year-old Thursday evening in Encamp for injuring a roommate. They also detained seven for drink-driving: six vehicle drivers aged 23 to 47 with alcohol levels from 0.92 to 1.79, plus a 29-year-old on an electric scooter at 2.89 after crashing on the Cortals d'Encamp road.
Original Sources
This article was aggregated from the following Catalan-language sources:
- El Periòdic•
Detingudes 87 persones per possessió i dues per tràfic de drogues durant el cap de setmana de festivals
- El Periòdic•
La Policia deté quatre persones per accedir al país amb drogues i set més per conduir sota els efectes de l’alcohol
- ARA•
Dos traficants i prop de 90 persones detingudes amb drogues als festivals d'Andorra
- Bon Dia•
Dos detinguts per tràfic de drogues i 90 per possessió en el marc dels festivals
- Diari d'Andorra•
Detingut un turista amb 4,3 grams de cocaïna a la frontera del riu Runer
- Altaveu•
Dues detencions per tràfic i prop de 90 per possessió en el marc dels festivals del cap de setmana
- Diari d'Andorra•
La policia deté 89 persones per drogues durant el dispositiu dels festivals