The Policía Nacional has published an operational report following the conclusion of the Feria de Málaga on Sunday. It says that a total of 391 reports (actas) were filed between 14 and 23 August 2026, including 315 relating to drugs. Officers reported an increase in so-called new-generation drugs. A further 38 incidents involving weapons possession were recorded. In total, police arrested 83 people. The figures come from a statement by the security forces, also reported by Europa Press .
The authorities broke down the 83 arrests by offence: one person was arrested for robbery involving violence, nine for offences against public health, seven for assault, nine for resisting and disobeying officers, and ten for assaulting officers. A further eight arrests involved offences against sexual freedom and eight involved illegal possession of weapons; seven people were arrested in connection with domestic and gender-based violence. Fourteen of those arrested were wanted by the authorities; the rest were arrested for other offences. Drug offences thus accounted for by far the largest share of cases dealt with during the Feria de Málaga.
According to the authorities, officers intervened in 126 fights (reyertas) during the festival and provided humanitarian assistance on 136 occasions. Nearly 6,700 people underwent identity checks. More than 2,000 police officers were deployed for the security operation in the Andalusian coastal city of Málaga; the figures are from an official Comunicado by the Policía Nacional.
Police attribute the term “new-generation drugs” to the growing presence of novel synthetic mixtures and designer drugs circulating in different forms. The authorities did not specify particular drug classes in their report.
Measures to prevent so-called “chemical submission” (sumisión química) – the surreptitious addition of substances to drinks – were announced ahead of the event. The Colegio de Médicos de Málaga says it distributed 3,000 test wristbands, which are intended to let people check drinks on the spot for possible contamination. As usual, the authorities gave few details about individual cases and ongoing investigations. The data collected will inform the review of this year’s security arrangements in Málaga and any possible changes to future operational plans in Andalusia.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).