Fusion Festival 2026: Customs and police report
The 27th Fusion music festival in Lärz, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, has ended, and visitors are leaving in large numbers. Police Inspectorate Neubrandenburg, Federal Police Inspectorate Stralsund, and Main Customs Office Stralsund have now drawn a preliminary balance of their joint security and narcotics controls around the festival grounds and arrival and departure routes. The report shows that despite an overall orderly event, drug crime and driving under the influence of narcotics remained central issues throughout the operation. The Fusion festival is one of Germany's largest open-air events and attracts tens of thousands of visitors to the region between Lärz and Neustrelitz every year.
Departure and police deployment at a glance
Since yesterday, thousands of festival-goers have been leaving the area around Lärz and Neustrelitz – by coach, bicycle, private car, and train. As during arrival, state and federal police are also deployed for the departure to ensure a smooth exit. Officers specifically check the roadworthiness of departing visitors and intervene whenever there are signs of drug use or possession. In retrospect, the operation was, weather-wise, the hottest deployment the forces led by Police Inspectorate Neubrandenburg have ever carried out at a Fusion festival. Extreme temperatures made work at the checkpoints even more demanding.
At fixed and mobile checkpoints around the grounds, officers recorded 48 cases since Tuesday evening in which persons were driving under the influence of narcotics. Police stress that every single case is one too many. Therefore, the main focus was on checking and ensuring roadworthiness during arrival and departure. In addition to these traffic offences, police filed eight criminal complaints for possession or trafficking of drugs.
Interruption due to fire and incidents on the grounds
On Thursday evening, the festival had to be interrupted for about two and a half hours in coordination with the organiser's security staff, the public order office, and police. The trigger was a fire in the adjacent natural area, which the fire service quickly brought under control. All guests were evacuated to the runways while police checked that everyone had left the critical area.
While most participants moved to safety, authorities say some took advantage of the situation: they sprayed graffiti on the tarpaulin of a mobile police station from the outside. When a female officer tried to stop the acts and secure video evidence, she was physically assaulted by one person and slightly injured. Investigations are ongoing and the recorded footage is being evaluated. Complaints were filed for property damage and assault on law enforcement officers. The material damage amounts to around 500 euros.
Federal police at Neustrelitz station
In the area of Neustrelitz railway station, Federal Police Inspectorate Stralsund was deployed from the start of the festival. The focus was on ensuring safe arrival and departure of festival guests at the main station. Around 70 officers were on duty there. Overall, the forces draw a positive balance in the rail sector.
Nearly 12,000 festival visitors travelled to the event weekend by Deutsche Bahn trains; by midday on the departure day, around 7,800 people had already left. Compared with the previous year, traveller numbers increased significantly. Neustrelitz station served as a central hub for arrival and departure and required reinforced police staffing. As announced in advance, spot checks and incident-related controls took place throughout the deployment period. Officers recorded ten criminal offences and one administrative offence – mostly violations of the Narcotics Act. The findings concerned both possession and trafficking of illegal substances.
Among other items, ecstasy tablets, cocaine, and amphetamine were seized. In addition, a Colombian national was found to be unlawfully present in Germany. The safety of rail passengers was ensured at all times in close cooperation with Deutsche Bahn. Despite several long-distance train cancellations, departure was secured. The railway deployed seven special trains to ease return travel.
Main customs office with sniffer dogs and X-ray technology
During the main arrival days, staff from Main Customs Office Stralsund supported state police controls – including with specially trained drug detection dogs. Due to its diverse programme and location in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the Fusion festival also attracts many visitors from neighbouring European countries, including travellers from Scandinavia, Poland, and the Benelux states. The customs office therefore took part in checks on arrival traffic in two deployment sections and focused on vehicles and luggage suspected of smuggling or unlawful drug possession.
The aim was to prevent, detect, and prosecute criminal offences and administrative violations in the area of prohibitions and restrictions – in particular the unauthorised bringing of banned substances. In addition to sniffer dogs, X-ray technology was used. A total of 24 criminal proceedings were initiated for violations of the Narcotics Act and the Cannabis Consumption Act.
Seized substances at a glance
- Ecstasy and amphetamine
- Cocaine and other psychoactive substances
- Psilocybin mushrooms, LSD, and ketamine
- Hashish and marijuana
Some seizures consisted of a varied mix of different narcotics. According to authorities, the diversity of seized substances reflects the broad spectrum of illegal drugs that repeatedly appear at major events. Customs also explicitly points out that even after the Cannabis Consumption Act came into force on 1 April 2024, bringing cannabis in all forms into the country from abroad remains prohibited. Visitors from other European countries may therefore neither carry hashish nor marijuana across the border. Enquiries about the operations should be directed to Main Customs Office Stralsund.
