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