Andorran Police Arrest Multiple Suspects in Violent Crimes and Drink-Driving Crackdown

Andorran police have made several arrests over recent days, including for serious violent crimes, theft, and drink-driving offences, as part of enhanced weekend surveillance to bolster public safety.

In Pas de la Casa this week, authorities detained a 42-year-old man on a judicial order for alleged crimes against sexual liberty, including a rape, and against physical and moral integrity in a gender violence context. The arrest on Monday followed an ongoing investigation that linked him to two incidents: one in October 2023 involving the alleged sexual assault of an underage girl, during which police found drug trafficking and consumption items at his home; and another in June 2023, when he allegedly raped a woman he had been in a relationship with after she tried to end it. He was processed and placed under judicial oversight.

The same area saw another arrest in the early hours of Tuesday, when a 37-year-old tourist was detained for suspected offences against public authority, honour, and liberty. Traffic police spotted him assaulting his partner on the street and alerted officers. Upon intervention, he became violent, attempting to punch and kick the agents while insulting and threatening them with death.

Earlier last Friday afternoon in Andorra la Vella, a 34-year-old non-resident with prior convictions was caught trying to steal items from a woman's backpack after a bystander alerted police. Checks revealed an outstanding warrant from October 2018 linking him to multiple wallet thefts and fraudulent use of stolen credit cards, alongside four other suspects.

Violence continued over the weekend. In Escaldes-Engordany that Friday, a 51-year-old man was arrested in Sant Julià de Lòria for assaulting his adult son at their family home, facing charges of crimes against physical and moral integrity. Late Saturday outside a nightclub in Andorra la Vella, a 27-year-old tourist was detained after inflicting two deep eye wounds on another man, who required hospital treatment; the suspect resisted arrest, insulted officers, and made threats, adding charges of disobedience. Early Sunday, a 29-year-old woman was stopped in Andorra la Vella for running two red lights on an electric scooter; police found 0.43 grams of MDMA on her, and she refused a toxics test, leading to investigation for endangering public safety.

Drink-driving arrests were frequent. Last weekend, a 29-year-old man registered 1.33 g/l in the early hours of Saturday, while an 18-year-old who crashed into two parked vehicles in Arinsal tested at 1.49 g/l. Over recent days, four more men aged 26 to 45 were stopped with blood alcohol levels between 0.93 and 1.01 g/l.

Police maintain heightened patrols to prevent such incidents, particularly those tied to security risks. Investigations into several cases remain active.