Copenhagen's mayor issued a plea on Monday, urging foreigners not to purchase marijuana in the city's Christiania neighborhood. The appeal comes in the wake of a fatal shooting two weeks
ago, linked to gang turf wars surrounding the marijuana trade in the area.
The recent killing on August 26th marked another chapter in an ongoing feud between rival gangs, the Hells Angels and the outlawed Loyal to Family group. Both factions are vying for control of the cannabis market within Christiania.
On Friday, a 28-year-old man affiliated with the Loyal To Family gang was arrested in connection with the shooting incident.
It's important to note that the sale of marijuana is illegal in Denmark.
Copenhagen Mayor Sophie Hæstorp Andersen expressed deep concern about the escalating violence in Christiania, stating, "The spiral of violence at Christiania is deeply worrying." She urged "the hundreds of thousands of visiting tourists and the many new foreign students who have just moved to Copenhagen to stay away and refrain from buying weed or other drugs at Pusher Street."
Christiania is a significant tourist attraction in Copenhagen, drawing many foreign visitors. Hæstorp Andersen emphasized the unintended consequences of purchasing drugs in the area, with the money ultimately funding criminal gangs involved in street violence.
Following the latest shooting incident, residents of Christiania called for the closure of Pusher Street, where drug-selling booths are prevalent. Last month, they made an attempt to shut down the street themselves using heavy machinery, but masked men, believed to be drug peddlers, thwarted their efforts.
City officials have yet to propose concrete solutions to address the drug trade in Christiania. In the past, police have dismantled the drug-selling booths multiple times, only for them to reappear.
Christiania was established in 1973 when hippies began squatting at a former naval base. The neighborhood initially embraced flower-power ideals, advocating for free cannabis, limited government intervention, a car-free environment, and a police-free zone. Buildings in the area were painted in vibrant psychedelic colors. Today, Christiania is home to nearly 700 adults and around 150 children. Photo by Pudelek, Wikimedia commons.