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Police road blitz on ravers nets drugs
By MARIZA FIAMENGO
Sunday, 16 February 2003
"It became very obvious that as we pulled a car in another 20 would be getting past that were probably carrying drugs."
POLICE arrested 37 people for drug offences as they headed to a dance party on the outskirts of Ballarat on Saturday night.
About 25 police officers conducted general car checks and breath tested motorists at a road block on the Western Hwy at Bungaree between 7.30pm and 11.30pm.
Police seized:
132 ecstasy tablets from 11 people
17 quantities of amphetamines of various sizes
24 amounts of cannabis
18 doses of LSD.
All the people charged for drug offences told police they were heading to the Kryal Castle dance party and none were from Ballarat.
Detective Sergeant Gerry Rudkins, of Bacchus Marsh CIU, said more arrests would have been made if more police resources were available.
"I was surprised at how common it was in the cars we were stopping," he said.
"It became very obvious that as we pulled a car in another 20 would be getting past that were probably carrying drugs."
Police stopped 1000 cars for alcohol breath tests and made two arrests of people driving with a blood alcohol reading above .05.
Police conducted full checks on up to 50 cars.
Kryal Castle owner Keith Ryall said he was surprised by the results of the police road block.
Mr Ryall said he saw no open drug taking at the dance party which attracted 3500 people.
"I have no knowledge of nor have I seen anyone popping drugs in the whole eight years the dance parties have been running at Kryal Castle," he said.
He said up to 40 security officers were employed on Saturday night and anyone caught trying to sell drugs would have been handed to police.
The Kryal Castle dance parties have been plagued by complaints relating to noise, the use of illegal fireworks and litter in the past year.
Moorabool Shire Council gave the tourist park one last chance to host an incident-free dance party and placed a range of conditions on Saturday night's event.
These conditions included the creation of noise, traffic and emergency management plans.
Mr Ryall said he was not aware of any complaints from neighbouring residents about noise levels on Saturday night.
Representatives from the Environmental Protection Authority also attended Saturday's event and were satisfied with the noise levels of the dance party, Mr Ryall said.
Ballarat Courier
By MARIZA FIAMENGO
Sunday, 16 February 2003
"It became very obvious that as we pulled a car in another 20 would be getting past that were probably carrying drugs."
POLICE arrested 37 people for drug offences as they headed to a dance party on the outskirts of Ballarat on Saturday night.
About 25 police officers conducted general car checks and breath tested motorists at a road block on the Western Hwy at Bungaree between 7.30pm and 11.30pm.
Police seized:
132 ecstasy tablets from 11 people
17 quantities of amphetamines of various sizes
24 amounts of cannabis
18 doses of LSD.
All the people charged for drug offences told police they were heading to the Kryal Castle dance party and none were from Ballarat.
Detective Sergeant Gerry Rudkins, of Bacchus Marsh CIU, said more arrests would have been made if more police resources were available.
"I was surprised at how common it was in the cars we were stopping," he said.
"It became very obvious that as we pulled a car in another 20 would be getting past that were probably carrying drugs."
Police stopped 1000 cars for alcohol breath tests and made two arrests of people driving with a blood alcohol reading above .05.
Police conducted full checks on up to 50 cars.
Kryal Castle owner Keith Ryall said he was surprised by the results of the police road block.
Mr Ryall said he saw no open drug taking at the dance party which attracted 3500 people.
"I have no knowledge of nor have I seen anyone popping drugs in the whole eight years the dance parties have been running at Kryal Castle," he said.
He said up to 40 security officers were employed on Saturday night and anyone caught trying to sell drugs would have been handed to police.
The Kryal Castle dance parties have been plagued by complaints relating to noise, the use of illegal fireworks and litter in the past year.
Moorabool Shire Council gave the tourist park one last chance to host an incident-free dance party and placed a range of conditions on Saturday night's event.
These conditions included the creation of noise, traffic and emergency management plans.
Mr Ryall said he was not aware of any complaints from neighbouring residents about noise levels on Saturday night.
Representatives from the Environmental Protection Authority also attended Saturday's event and were satisfied with the noise levels of the dance party, Mr Ryall said.
Ballarat Courier