Lleida Knife, Drug Complaints Surge

Lleida’s city government said on May 15 that the Guardia Urbana filed 1,196 complaints for possession of knives and narcotics between January and April, up 140.64% from 497 in the same period of 2025. The figures were presented to the city’s Security Commission, according to the local newspaper Segre. The increase came as the municipality expanded police checks in parts of the city where officials have reported repeat disorder and drug-related incidents. The complaints averaged about 10 seizures a day, compared with 4.1 a day in the first four months of last year. ### Why did complaints rise if overall crime fell? On April 22, the Lleida city government said reported crime in the first quarter fell 11.6% to 2,550 from 2,884 a year earlier. Mayor Fèlix Larrosa said at the time that police effectiveness and coordination between forces had contributed to the drop. (segre.com) The January-April jump in knife and drug complaints reflects more enforcement activity rather than a citywide increase in all categories of crime, according to the figures presented by the municipality and reported by Segre. Those complaints are administrative or police denunciations tied to seizures and checks, and the city has been increasing targeted operations in specific neighborhoods. (paeria.cat) ### Where were police concentrating the checks? On March 18, the Paeria said the Guardia Urbana and the Mossos d’Esquadra would double security checks in Lleida’s historic center. The city said police interventions by the two forces in the old quarter had risen 30% during 2025, and officials linked the plan to repeated complaints about safety and coexistence in the area. (segre.com) On March 27, the city reported that a joint Kanpai operation in the Centre Històric ended with one arrest, about 50 people identified and four reports for possession of weapons and drugs. Deputy mayor for security Cristina Morón said the coordinated work responded to the city’s request to fight repeat offending and improve safety in the neighborhood. (paeria.cat) ### What else has happened in Lleida around weapons and drugs? On April 21 and April 25, police operations reported by Segre targeted marijuana and weapons trafficking networks centered on Lleida and nearby Seròs. The later operation ended with 12 arrests and the seizure of 1,300 marijuana plants, 16 pistols and ammunition, according to the report. (paeria.cat) On April 1, Segre also reported that the Guardia Urbana planned criminal proceedings against a 77-year-old man after he allegedly fired a blank pistol several times in the Cappont neighborhood. Municipal sources told the newspaper he would be reported for illegal weapons possession. (segre.com) ### How is the city responding beyond street checks? On April 21, the Paeria presented a new civics and coexistence ordinance that raises fines across a range of public-order violations. The city said penalties would range from 400 euros to 3,000 euros depending on severity and repeat conduct, and that taking part in a fight could bring a fine of up to 1,000 euros. Larrosa said, “No podemos transmitir la idea de que vulnerar las normas de convivencia sale gratis.” (segre.com) On April 30, the city approved five recruitment calls to reinforce the Guardia Urbana with command staff and officers. The openings covered inspection, subinspection, sergeant, corporal and four open-entry officer posts, according to the municipality. ### What comes next in Lleida? The April 30 staffing calls and the proposed civics ordinance are the clearest next steps set out by the city government. (paeria.cat) The ordinance was presented on April 21 and the hiring plan was announced as the municipality continued to expand enforcement in 2026. (paeria.cat)