More than 100 Electric Gardens revellers fail to heed drug warnings

AN ARMY of police and sniffer dogs nabbed a large number of arrivals at the Electric Gardens nine-hour dance marathon yesterday. (There is no suggestion that anyone pictured took any drugs)

Police and sniffer dogs check patrons as they enter the Electric Gardens festival. Picture: Toby Zerna

AN ARMY of police and sniffer dogs nabbed more than 140 techno lovers for drug offences at eastern suburbs music festival Electric Gardens yesterday.

Police warned they would be there — and highly visible — to catch revellers carrying party drugs into the nine-hour gathering of dance music superstars and 9600 of their bopping fans in Centennial Park.

The vast majority of the 9600 strong fans like Jess Mollee, Chantelle Griffiths and Sacha Romanov heeded police warnings. Picture: Toby Zerna

Paul Hunt, Gemma Gibbs and Sophie Malin. Picture: Toby Zerna

But 136 were caught and charged with possess prohibited drug and a further 16 with supply prohibited drug.

There were six cautions issued for carrying cannabis.

“It is always disappointing that police are detecting the possession and supply of illegal drugs,” Operation Commander Superintendent Karen McCarthy said.

Giant mister machines were employed to help keep the festival goers such as Angela Wannet cool. Picture: Toby Zerna

Kate Showan and Lucy Williams. Picture: Toby Zerna

“Not only is it a serious criminal offence it is also very harmful to your health and you simply do not know what you are taking.”

She said apart from the drug matters police were “very happy” with crowd behaviour.

There is no suggestion that anyone pictured took any drugs.

Despite police declaring they would be there and highly visible there were 136 people charged with possession of illegal dugs. Picture: Toby Zerna

There was also a heavy security presence at the festival. Picture: Toby Zerna

Revellers were treated 146 times by medical staff for intoxication, dehydration and the odd sprained ankle but there were no serious injuries.

The event was headlined by UK dance music superstars Basement Jaxx, Welsh DJ Sasha and Swedish dance guru Eric Prydz in an afternoon sweat-fest that finished at 10pm.

Sizzling conditions saw hundreds bare almost all to cool off as the temperature reached almost 30C and many did so in front of giant mister machines, while organisers also provided free water.

Event organiser T1000 has been contacted for comment.

Fans dance to DJ Eelke Kleijn. Picture: Toby Zerna

Early on in the nine-hour long event as crowds begin to arrive. Picture: Toby Zerna