Nearly three dozen people have been arrested at this year's Burning Man for drug sales and trafficking, according to Pershing County Sheriff Jerry Allen.
Allen said that as of Friday morning, 34 arrests were made for drug sales or trafficking and one arrest related to domestic violence.
Allen said officers were not targeting people using drugs at Black Rock City.
With three days left before thousands leave Black Rock City, Allen said deputies will be on high alert heading into Saturday night, when the Man is burned in a huge pyrotechnic display.
Burning Man runs through Monday, Sept. 7. It attracts tens of thousands of people each year to the gathering 100 miles north of Reno. The latest population count stood at 57,000 on Friday.
Reports of spiked drinks
Allen said he heard reports that drinks were spiked with drugs and made some people sick. He said deputies are investigating and reaching out to Burning Man officials for more information.
Many camps offer free drinks and food to attendees.
Allen told the RGJ on Friday a man had died Thursday in Black Rock City. Allen said foul play is not suspected but the case is being investigated.
Arrests at Burning Man in 2025
In 2025, 44 people were arrested by the Pershing County Sheriff's Office. Most were from California. Four were from Nevada, including one person arrested for assault with a deadly weapon the day before Burning Man officially opened.
Last year, arrests at Burning Man accounted for nearly 25% of all arrests in Pershing County. The county's population is fewer than 10,000 residents for most of the year but increases by more than 1,000% during the festival, reaching between 60,000 and 80,000 participants.
Pershing County authorities are also still investigating the 2025 killing of a 37-year-old man who was found with a single stab wound to the neck. No arrests have been made in that case.