Police say that they are disappointed after dozens of people were charged with drug offences during a three-day music festival held near Camden over the weekend.
Approximately 5,000 people attended the annual Secret Garden Music Festival, held on Brownlow Hill Loop Road between Friday and Sunday.
A police operation – involving officers from Camden Police Area Command, along with the Traffic & Highway Patrol Command, Dog Unit and police from the South West Metropolitan Region – was conducted at the festival.
A total of 192 people and 55 vehicles were searched.
Twenty-six people were issued court infringement notices for drug offences.
And 17 people at the concert site were treated for the effects of drug use. Two of those were overdoses.
Police also ejected 44 people from the event.
Following the event, highway patrol officers conducted 56 Random Drug Tests (RDT) of drivers leaving the event, with 12 returning a positive result.
This included 10 who tested positive to methamphetamine and two for cannabis.
Inspector Paul Fryer, Camden Police Area Command, said despite the many warnings during previous years, people are continuing to bring illegal drugs into the event.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“It’s extremely disappointing that many festival-goers are ignoring our warnings and they think it is ok to risk their lives, and the lives of others, by bringing illegal drugs to the festival,” Inspector Fryer said.[/social_quote]
“We had a strong police presence there and the results show that if people intend on bringing drugs in, they will be caught, charged and put before the courts”.
