Oktoberfest in Munich is not only about beer, brass bands and Bavarian tradition. Behind the scenes, police units are waging a determined battle against drug use on the Theresienwiese.
While alcohol dominates the festival atmosphere, cocaine has increasingly become part of the picture — and Bavaria’s justice system is responding with some of the harshest penalties in Europe.
Cocaine under the radar: how police operate at Wiesn
Undercover investigators patrol the festival grounds from the very first day. Within minutes of the opening weekend, officers observed a man openly consuming a suspicious white powder.
The individual, a Spanish national, was taken into custody after being found with just over one gram of cocaine.
For police, such discoveries are not unusual. “Open consumption has become part of the Wiesn reality,” one investigator told local media.
The high police presence aims to keep dealers away, but many festivalgoers bring their own substances instead of buying on site.
A staggering €40,000 penalty
What shocked many was not just the arrest itself but the severity of the financial penalty.
Under Bavarian law, foreigners without permanent residence in Germany are often required to pay large advance fines to ensure they can be prosecuted.
In this case, authorities calculated the offender’s income and imposed a penalty of €40,000 for possession of just over one gram of cocaine.
Investigators called it “the most expensive line of his life.”
The man reportedly managed to pay part of the sum on the spot with his bank card, with the rest to follow via court proceedings.
This case underlines the uncompromising stance Bavaria takes on narcotics — even in seemingly minor quantities.
Cocaine prices and the “Wiesn markup”
Another aspect highlighted by police is the pricing of cocaine during the festival.
While street prices in Munich hover around €90 per gram, the same drug can cost between €120 and €150 on the Oktoberfest grounds, due to both demand and delivery risk.
The combination of high alcohol consumption and stimulant use poses additional safety risks.
Police emphasize that their continuous checks are designed to protect the festival’s reputation and prevent escalation in the packed beer tents.
Growing number of drug cases
The cocaine incident is part of a broader trend. In the first half of Oktoberfest 2025, authorities registered 86 drug-related offenses, with cocaine accounting for the majority.
Despite the growing numbers, investigators stress that dealer activity is minimal thanks to strict enforcement — most users carry their own supplies.
Police officials insist they will maintain strong pressure throughout the festival to keep narcotics under control. As one officer noted: “Our goal is clear — to keep the Wiesn as drug-free as possible.”
A symbolic example
The €40,000 cocaine case has become a symbolic example of Bavaria’s zero-tolerance approach to drugs at Oktoberfest.
It reflects both the tough judicial stance on narcotics and the practical challenges of policing a festival that attracts millions of visitors from around the world.
With undercover operations, strict penalties and constant surveillance, Munich’s authorities are determined to send a message: Oktoberfest may be the world’s biggest party, but drug use here comes at an exceptionally high price.
