AN ILLEGAL five-day rave in an airfield near Valencia could see the organiser fined between €30,000 and €90,000 - and he is said to have gone on the run.
Between 3,000 and 4,000 people went along to the party in the hangar in Benagéber, which started late on New Year's Eve and did not break up until after dawn on Monday, January 5.
Given the likely complications evacuating the site would involve, the Guardia Civil opted to surround the rave zone - which was occupied illegally and without any of the required health and safety measures in place, nor alcohol or music permits issued - and monitor those going in and out.
They identified 1,633 people and 561 vehicles, and filed 18 sanctions for unlawful possession of firearms, six for possession of drugs, 27 for road traffic offences, 64 relating to countryside and conservation legislation, 85 for illegal camping and four for breaches of animal protection rules.
Officers drug-tested everyone they identified and 60% of them were found to have taken some substance or another including ecstasy, speed, cocaine or cannabis.
The organiser's identity has not been revealed, although police are aware of who he is and hint that he may be Italian, and an international arrest warrant has been issued.
It is thought he may have been behind illegal raves in the past - one in Siete Aguas, inland of Valencia and to the west of Benagéber, over New Year's Day 2014 and one several years ago in Buñol, also inland of Valencia but further east.
These claims have not been confirmed.
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