There was a high police presence at Defqon last year.
Sniffer dogs, undercover police, bags searched and pat downs on entry so be warned.
Imagine it will happen again this year.
Its about the music not the drugs!
ARTICLE AFTER LAST YEARS EVENT FOR THOSE WHO ARE GOING FOR THE FIRST TIME AND FOR THOSE WHO NEED A REMINDER
100 people charged with drug possession after dance festival — Penrith
Sunday, 20 Sep 2009 09:35am
Police have charged 100 people with drug offences following a dance festival at Castlereagh in Sydney’s west yesterday.
Between 10am and 10pm, a large scale dance festival was held at the Sydney International Regatta Centre on Castlereagh Road.
The event attracted a crowd of approximately 15,000 people with a major police operation being conducted to ensure the safety of all party goers.
Police from Penrith and neighbouring local area commands as well as officers from the Drug Dog Unit and Public Order and Riot Squad attended the event.
With the use of a police drug dog, a large number of people were searched and 100 people were issued court attendance notices for possessing prohibited drugs. The main drugs detected at the festival were ecstasy, amphetamines and cannabis.
A 19-year-old Canley Heights man was arrested after he was allegedly found in possession of 140 ecstasy pills at the festival.
He was taken to Penrith Police Station where he was charged with supplying a prohibited drug and refused bail to appear at Parramatta Bail Court today.
The festival was also marred by a number of small brawls which erupted during the evening with officers from the Public Order and Riot Squad stepping in to remove the culprits.
Penrith Duty Officer, Chief Inspector Damon Cox said he was disappointed and concerned to see so many people arrested for drug possession and anti-social behaviour.
“The general behaviour of the festival goers was pleasing and most who attended had a fun and safe time, however, it is disappointing to see a small minority of people ruining it for others.
“I am saddened to see so many young people being arrested for drug possession but I make no apologies for the hard work police did during the festival to detect those hell bent on breaking the law,” Chief Inspector Cox said.
During the course of the dance festival over 200 people received medical treatment for heat exhaustion and minor injuries while five people were taken to Nepean Hospital suffering suspected drug overdoses.
“This event could have ended in tragedy and with five people being taken to hospital for drug overdoses – it is five people too many. I want people to realise drugs aren’t fun, they are dangerous and they kill people.
“We will continue our investigations into all those arrested and charged with drug possession and I expect further charges will be laid,” Chief Inspector Cox said.
