Police in Bergen dealt with a series of incidents throughout a busy weekend that included drug arrests, public intoxication cases, and mountain rescues. The operations highlight the diverse challenges facing law enforcement in Norway's second-largest city.
A man in his sixties was arrested early Monday morning in central Bergen. He faces charges of sexual activity with a close relation where he held a position of power. The victim is a teenage girl, though authorities confirmed the accused is not her father. Police are not seeking pretrial detention but will impose a visitation ban instead.
Benjamin Larsen, the prosecuting authority, stated the investigation remains in early stages. "The man has not completed questioning yet," he said. "I cannot discuss interrogation details at this time. Several people still need to be interviewed."
Separately, police arrested a foreign national who will remain in custody for four weeks. The Hordaland District Court found he had approximately 45 grams of cocaine and 110 grams of hashish in his Airbnb accommodation. The man claimed to be vacationing in Norway, but the court noted his weak connections to the country.
Police attorney Jørgen Henriksen commented on another drug case involving nearly 50 grams of cocaine. "We suspect he was here to sell drugs," Henriksen said. "We need to determine why he possessed these substances." The man currently faces charges for drug possession but not sales.
Two foreign women were detained at Flesland airport Monday afternoon after customs officials discovered pills in their possession. They now face drug importation charges while authorities decide whether to release them or seek detention.
Beyond drug enforcement, police responded to multiple public disturbance calls. A man in his fifties was placed in drunk tank after fighting at Haven nightclub around 3 AM Sunday. Another man in his twenties was arrested for intoxication at a private address Monday evening.
Traffic enforcement required extreme measures when police deployed spike strips to stop a suspected impaired driver in Arna. The driver ignored lights and sirens before officers disabled his vehicle. No injuries occurred, but multiple police cars sustained damage.
Mountain rescue teams successfully located two missing sheep gatherers in Modalen who lost their trail Saturday night. Volunteers helped bring the pair down safely. Another rescue operation extracted a man with foot injuries from Nordfjord mountains amid challenging fog conditions.
Environmental concerns emerged when green liquid appeared at Tveitevannet's northern end. Bergen Water later suspected special algae rather than paint contamination. Fire services initially responded but stood down after the assessment.
Police described the overall weekend as typically busy for a Sunday night. Operations leader Knut Dahl-Michelsen noted several fights were resolved through ejections and verbal warnings rather than arrests.
These incidents demonstrate the broad spectrum of police work in Western Norway. From serious sexual offense investigations to routine public order maintenance, authorities balance enforcement with practical resolution. The drug cases particularly highlight ongoing challenges with international narcotics trafficking through Bergen.
Norwegian law enforcement typically emphasizes proportional responses, as seen in the preference for visitation bans over detention in some cases. The successful rescue operations also showcase effective coordination between police and volunteer emergency services in challenging mountain terrain.