The number of people detained during Palmares festivities is increasing. Even though in 2015 the Public Force detained 308 people, so far this year, authorities have detained 285.
Director of the police in Alajuela Rándall Picado said that they expect this number to increase because there are at least 4 more days of party and there will be a concert next Sunday.
Most apprehensions occur due to drug use or possession (mainly marijuana), as well as for disturbing the peace and for crimes against property.
Picado thinks this increase is due to greater effectiveness of the police forces. However, there is a greater consumption of marijuana among young people.
Manuel Rojas, vice president of Palmares Civic Association, declared that this number is not surprising because these are the safest parties in history due to the coordinated operations between national authorities and Palmares private security.
Rándall Picado explained that depending on the crime or the reason for being detained, the case may, or may not, reach the Public Ministry.
Drug detainees depend on the situation: if they are selling, their case will be transferred to the Public Prosecutor’s Office. In the cases of consumption, the drug is confiscated and the person is investigated in the police records,
declared the official.
Criminal lawyers Ewald Acuña and Bernan Salazar agreed that this kind of apprehensions do not affect people’s criminal record, because the only way to make that happen is that there is a sentence.