Hundreds caught with drugs at Bluesfest

[Portillo]

200 people have been caught with drugs, mostly cannabis, at Byron Bay Bluesfest, police say.

Of those caught, 39 will front court and 161 were issued with cautions at the five-day event at Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm.

Cannabis, methylamphetamine, MDMA, cocaine, and LSD were also seized during the annual festival, which ended last night.

Despite the number of drug offences, police said they were pleased with the behaviour of the crowd.

"The fact we found so many festival goers in possession of drugs is disappointing, though overall we were pleased with the lack of anti-social behaviour,'' Inspector Gary Cowan said.

While the event only wrapped up last night, organisers are already looking to next year's event - the festival's 25th birthday party.

http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2013/04/02/449671_crime-and-court-news.html

 

[Mysterie]

damn i thought byron bay was a relatively progressive/relaxed/hippy community

although i guess a weed caution just = they take away your weed and you get another 2 strikes?

its still a maximum of 180$ or something for possession of any amount of MJ in adelaide

 

[slimvictor]

What an incredible waste of public services to search hundreds of partygoers for drugs.
The cops should have been there to protect them, not to harass them.
Insane.

But at least there was this:

Of those caught, 39 will front court and 161 were issued with cautions at the five-day event at Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm.

 

[Si Dread]

overall we were pleased with the lack of anti-social behaviour

... that's coz there was so many good drugs at your fest that festival goers did not feel the need to inbibe alcohol, perhaps some Egytians believe...

 

[poledriver]

Police have taken action against 200 people for drug offences after a five day blues festival on the north coast.

About 80,000 people attended the festival at the Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm on the Pacific Highway near Byron Bay, with about 60,000 campers on site.

Police from Tweed/Byron Local Area Command, Richmond Local Area Command, Operational Support Group, Police Transport Command, and Alcohol Licensing and Enforcement Command (ALEC), were in attendance at the festival.

During the course of the operation, police issued 161 cannabis cautions and issued 39 Field Court Attendance Notices for other drug related offences.

Police seized cannabis, methylamphetamine, MDMA, cocaine, and LSD.

Inspector Gary Cowan, from Tweed/Byron Local Area Command, said police were overall pleased by the behaviour of those in attendance.

“The fact we found so many festival-goers in possession of drugs is disappointing, though overall we were pleased with the lack of anti-social behaviour,” Inspector Cowan said.

http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/m...nb3YuYXUlMkZtZWRpYSUyRjI5NDg0Lmh0bWwmYWxsPTE=

 

[poledriver]

this was this years line up-

 

[Portillo]

... that's coz there was so many good drugs at your fest that festival goers did not feel the need to inbibe alcohol.

Its funny how they fail to realise that the lack in violence and antisocial behavior, is BECAUSE they are on non-alcoholic drugs!

 

[slimvictor]

^ Gotta agree with that. (but want to add a "likely" before "because" to be safe)

 

[Captain.Heroin]

"The fact we found so many festival goers in possession of drugs is disappointing, though overall we were pleased with the lack of anti-social behaviour,'' Inspector Gary Cowan said.

I thought doing drugs was considered anti-social behavior??

 

[poledriver]

80,000 ppl and 200 caught for drugs is jack shit.

 

[poledriver]

the cops could find more people with drugs in byron town than that on a long weekend.