Due to a high volume of holiday vacationers, raucous beach parties and drunk-driving accidents usually accompany the deeply religious processions and church services of Semana Santa. This year was no exception.
Police, the Red Cross and the National System of Conservation Areas all conducted special operations from April 11 to 20. The sum of their activities ranged from the expected – attending car accidents – to the tragic – recovering drowning victims – to the absurd – seizing giant dolls used for effigy burnings. Here is a breakdown of the numbers.
Arrests
1,225
Total
Among the detained:
363
were arrested for violating the country’s psychotropics law (possessing or selling illicit drugs)
223
were arrested for irregular immigration
98
were arrested for vandalism
69
were caught while committing a crime (flagrante delicto) and were transferred to court
Seizures
As we reported last week, one of the largest seizures for the week was in illegally transported fish. As bizarre as confiscated seafood may seem, the strangest seized items were the 20 human-sized dolls that allegedly would have been used as effigies for “Burning of Judas” ceremonies.
Among other things police seized:
3,711
units (unspecified) of illegal alcohol
1,682
grams of cocaine and 105 single doses
1,657
marijuana joints
1,500
doses of crack
28
illegal firearms
23
motorcycles
20
life-sized dolls for effigy burnings
16
knives
9.86
kilos of marijuana
6
cars
Medical emergencies
Car accidents and riptides wreaked the most havoc this Semana Santa, injuring and killing dozens of vacationers.
273
people attended at Red Cross posts
105
water rescues by either the Red Cross or Coast Guard
97
Serious injuries
75
traffic-related injuries
25
deaths,
of which:
12
were from traffic accidents
7
were drownings
3
were from shootings
3
were from other or unknown circumstances
