Danes crack down on Christiania hippies

Police raided Copenhagen’s famed hippie enclave early today, arresting 53 people in a major crackdown on the open sale of hashish.

Drugs are illegal in Denmark, though authorities have tolerated the sale of hashish in Christiania, a counterculture oasis of psychedelic-coloured buildings, no government, no cars and no police.

Residents banned the sale of harder drugs in 1980.

Police moved into the 84-acre enclave before dawn while also raiding homes in the city.

“We are specifically going after some known individuals who sell hashish,” said police spokesman Flemming Steen.

The government said that Christiania could remain an alternative lifestyle community as long as residents obey the law, pay rent and stop selling drugs.

The enclave took root in 1971 when dozens of hippies moved into the derelict 18th century fort on state-owned land.

In 1987, Christiania was recognised as a “social experiment” and residents were later given the right to use the land, but not own it. The government now wants to end that agreement.