Police charges dozens with drug, traffic offences during Rabbits Eat Lettuce music festival

Almost 30 people have been charged with drug and traffic offences during a targeted police operation at the Rabbits Eat Lettuce music festival.

Almost 30 people have been charged with drug and traffic offences during a targeted police operation at the Rabbits Eat Lettuce music festival in Stonelands held over the Easter long weekend. Photo: Claudia Baxter / The Queensland Times

Almost 30 people have been charged with drug and traffic offences during a targeted police operation at the Rabbits Eat Lettuce music festival in Stonelands held over the Easter long weekend.

Police charged 29 people with 5o offences between April 18 and April 21 as part of Operation Xray Bandelier.

Police conducted 1761 random breath tests and 265 random drug tests, as well as 19 vehicle searches and 23 people searches at the event.

As a result of these activities, police seized 15 grams of cannabis, four grams of cocaine, two grams of amphetamines, three MDMA tablets, three LSD tablets, one vial of steroids, as well as cash and drug utensils.

Police charged 24 people with drug offences, two people with drink driving offences, and three people for unlicensed driving, and 25 people were issued with Traffic Infringement Notices.

The Rabbits Eat Lettuce music festival was relocated from the Toowoomba region after the Southern Downs Regional Council rejected their development application just eight weeks before the event was scheduled to go ahead. Photo credit: John Gass

The festival was relocated from the Toowoomba region after the Southern Downs Regional Council rejected their development application for a long-term site just eight weeks before the event was scheduled to go ahead.

The decision by the South Burnett Regional Council planning department to approve the event came under fire from some neighbours and members of the community who were unhappy with the lack of consultation.

Acting Inspector Brett Everest said it was disappointing to see that despite continued warnings, people still chose to attend these “family friendly events” while under the influence of drugs and warned the public police would continue to take a “zero-tolerance approach”.

“This operation sends a clear message – if you’re thinking of attending public events with drugs, we’ll be looking for you,” he said.