The analysis of the results of the Plan to eradicate drug use in schools and educational environments during 2024 certifies that La Rioja is a community in which drug trafficking is not a significant problem in this school environment.
This is one of the conclusions obtained at the meeting that the Government delegate in La Rioja, Beatriz Arraiz Nalda, held this morning with the heads of the State Security Forces (FCSE) to execute this Plan for the prevention of drug use in educational centers and environments, as well as in leisure areas and venues to evaluate the results during the 2024 campaign.
In particular, the Plan for the Prevention and Eradication of Drug Use in Educational Settings concluded last year with 16 seizures, the lowest number since 2006.
At the same time, inspections and identifications carried out by the National Police and Civil Guard remain high, which for Arraiz Nalda confirms that “the goal is being achieved that drug trafficking and consumption move further away from Rioja schools”. In total, in 2024, 46 educational centers in La Rioja and 59 establishments around them were inspected. In addition, the Civil Guard and the National Police made 939 identifications.
The government delegate has pointed out that 2024 was characterized as a year in which seizures have been residual and the most common seized drugs were marijuana, hashish and speed, all in low quantities.
In this way, the sharp reduction initiated the previous course in terms of the seizure of marijuana continued with 6 grams seized in 2023 and 5 grams in 2024.
On the other hand, in 2023 there was a significant increase in seizures of hashish resin (59 grams) compared to previous years, so it was agreed to extreme surveillance in 2024, increasing the radius of surveillance in educational environments. This preventive work has obtained great results with the seizure of the second lowest figure (3 grams of hashish resin).
As for speed, in 2023 two seizures were made, with a total of 7 grams, while in 2024 it has returned to a minimum figure of 3 grams, this substance being considered practically residual in the school environment.
According to these figures, Arraiz Nalda has insisted that “it can be said that drugs in La Rioja are kept away from educational centers and their environments.” In this regard, he has clarified that this fact does not mean that they do not consume in other areas.
He wanted to highlight that this intensive work carried out by both the National Police and the Civil Guard in four annual phases is complemented by permanent surveillance throughout the year, which favors that drugs remain quite distant from educational centers and their environments.
Plan for the prevention of drug use and trafficking in leisure areas
On the other hand, the meeting held this morning analyzed the data obtained in the Strategic Plan for Police Response to Drug Consumption and Retail Trafficking in Leisure Areas and Premises, which is also managed and coordinated by the Government Delegation in La Rioja together with the State Security Forces and Bodies.
The objective of the Plan, which has been in force since 2006, is to reduce the risk posed by the threat of retail trafficking and illicit drug use among young people in places where citizens are most likely to enjoy their leisure time.
Specifically, the Plan was developed in 2024 through the implementation of four intensive phases - Christmas, Carnival, Easter and Summer -, with the result of 39 detainees, the highest figure since the implementation of the plan, and the deactivation of 2 points of sale.
The Plan also resulted in the filing of 542 complaints of possession or use of drugs and the carrying out of 554 seizures. As a result of the intense surveillance work carried out by the Civil Guard and the National Police, 69 establishments were inspected and 8 owners of them were reported.
As for the drugs seized in La Rioja during the development of the Plan, the main seizures of 2024 were mainly marijuana, followed by hashish, speed and ecstasy.
As in previous years, marijuana continues to be the most common apprehension. The practical disappearance of the heroin seized is significant, with only 1 gram last year compared to 339 grams in 2022.