Eight Arrested and Hundreds Cited at Aquasella Music Festival
Spanish Civil Guard officers arrested eight people and issued over 700 administrative reports, primarily for drug-related offenses, during the recent Aquasella electronic music festival in Cangas de Onís.
The Civil Guard arrested eight people and issued hundreds of administrative reports during the recent Aquasella electronic music festival in Cangas de Onís, held from August 13 to 16. To ensure the safety of the nearly 70,000 attendees, 315 officers from the Asturias Command were deployed to prevent crime and maintain order.
Most of the police activity focused on tackling drug trafficking. Seven of the eight arrests were related to public health offenses. The suspects, aged between 23 and 48, came from across Spain, including Madrid, Tenerife, and A Coruña. During the operation, officers seized a variety of drugs prepared for sale, including MDMA, cocaine, LSD, ketamine, methamphetamine, hashish, and speed.
In addition to drug-related charges, a 31-year-old man from Tenerife was arrested for robbery with violence. He is accused of using pepper spray to steal a gold chain worth 4,000 euros. Police are currently investigating whether he was involved in similar crimes during the festival.
The operation also resulted in 744 administrative reports. The vast majority—726—were for drug possession or consumption in public spaces, which violates the Citizen Security Law. The remaining reports involved various other national and regional regulation breaches.
This heavy police presence is part of a broader strategy to manage the risks associated with large-scale events. The high number of reports highlights the ongoing challenge of drug use at major music festivals, where authorities continue to prioritize surveillance at both entrances and throughout the venue to ensure public safety.