Victor Harbor Schoolies Festival: Four men arrested for trafficking drugs

VIOLENCE and drugs have already cast a shadow over Schoolies, with an ugly fist-fight breaking out in the centre of celebrations at South Australia’s Victor Harbor.

A WILD brawl between four young men has marred the first day of Schoolies Festival at Victor Harbor.

A video shows security officers frantically pulling the violent youths apart as they throw numerous punches in an ugly fight near Warland Reserve, the centre of the celebrations, on Friday night.

It was one of a host of problems confronting police on the night, with four men arrested and charged for drug trafficking and 20 revellers taken to local hospitals for minor fractures.

However, police said they were pleased with the behaviour of school leavers on the first night of the three-day festival marking the end of high school for thousands of young South Australians.

The men charged with drug offences included two school leavers, police said.

Police made a total of eight arrests on Friday, including a 22-year-old and 21-year-old man, who police alleged had more than 200 ecstasy pills and a small amount of methamphetamine in a Victor Harbor motel room.

Students celebrating Schoolies in force at Victor Harbor. Picture: Tom Huntley

Both men were charged with trafficking a controlled drug.

A 20-year-old man was arrested and charged after allegedly being found with 52 ecstasy tablets near Warland Reserve and an 18-year-old man was charged with trafficking a controlled drug.

Police also arrested a school leaver after finding him with 10 ecstasy pills on Friday afternoon.

Police issued 36 ‘on the spot fines’ for drinking or possessing alcohol in dry zone areas, which cover most of the Victor Harbor township.

Operation Schoolies commander Inspector Gus Sickerdick said the majority of school leavers were well behaved and enjoying the festival but police were disappointed that despite warnings, some people were trying to sell illicit drugs.

“It’s very disappointing to find out that people who are non-school leavers, who are coming down here, are still trying to flout the law,” he said.

Insp Sickerdick warned school leavers that there were health risks associated with taking any drug.

“This festival is about students celebrating their last year of school with their friends and we are here to make that as safe as possible without illicit drugs and with a visible police presence.”

Police were alerted to the alleged possession of drugs in the Victor Harbor motel. Insp Sickerdick would not reveal how police received the tip off but said good rapport with accommodation owners and Schoolies Festival-goers had helped investigations.

“Unfortunately because of the bust, there was another drug diversion which was issued to a school leaver, who got caught up in it,” he said.

Insp Sickerdick said although more than 260 pills were seized, the same amount was seized in a similar incident last year.

There were several incidents of alcohol-fuelled violence, and in one, a man was arrested for assault and his victim was taken to Flinders Medical Centre for treatment.

SA ambulance operations manager Martin Kimber said paramedics — in conjunction with the St John Ambulance — attended to 56 patients in the St John Ambulance tent.

He said he was not aware of any patients being treated for being drug-affected and said it was mainly alcohol-related injuries.

More school leavers are expected from Adelaide today for the biggest night of the festival.

Police operations will continue over the next two days of the festival, where officers will continue bike, foot and mobile patrols, as well as traffic, drug, and dog operations.

Encounter Youth CEO Nigel Knowles said the organisation was pleased with the behaviour of festival-goers and said the arrests reflected a minority.

“Where there’s negative interactions with things like drug activity that’s an important part of the event that might put a roadblock in these young people’s lives so that they can get back on track,” he said.

Originally published as Victor Harbor Schoolies Festival: Four men arrested for trafficking drugs