Thousands of pills seized at Sydney’s Midnight Mafia Music Festival

FESTIVAL fans are raging over a controversial new rule which saw people barred from a weekend festival even though they had done nothing wrong.

THOUSANDS of ecstasy pills have been seized and 13 people, including three young women, charged at a Sydney music festival — but a controversial new entrance rule has caused outrage.

A total of 187 people were searched and more than 3500 MDMA capsules were seized in a large police operation, including sniffer dogs, at the Midnight Mafia Music Festival at the Sydney Showground on Saturday.

Remarkably, one of the young women had a total of 1600 caps on her and stunned police say they have never seen anything like it.

NSW Police added that the sheer brazenness the festivalgoers who were carrying drugs was “incredible”.

Tragically, a 25-year-old woman has been left fighting for her life, while three others were rushed to hospital for drug-related health issues and hundreds reported to paramedics.

Dozens of people were issued with court notices for drug possession. Picture: Instagram/ @jarredesmundo

However, numerous festivalgoers took to social media over the weekend to say they were denied entry to the event after they were searched by police on their way in — even though they were found to have nothing incriminating on them.

David Shoebridge, a Greens MP in the NSW Parliament, said the “aggressive and unwarranted” actions of the police represented a “21st century witchcraft trial”.

“It’s like when they used to throw people in the water and say if you’re a witch if you float and if you sink, you’re not — you can’t win either way,” he said.

He said his office has been contacted by about half a dozen people who had been turned away despite having no drug in their possession — but he believes that’s just a drop in the ocean.

“It’s alarming because you are basically guilty even though you have been proven innocent,” he said.

“I believe that being strip searched without a warrant — so you’re singled out and humiliated in public — is an infringement on your civil liberties as it is. But, what happened at the weekend is a step beyond this — when you’re further stripping people of their liberties and denying them entry even though they have done nothing wrong.”

One of those denied entry on Saturday took to social media to share her story.

“I was one of the innocent people who got pulled aside to be stripped searched and when cleared was still not allowed back in,” wrote the festivalgoer on Facebook.

“Was even threatened to be taken to the hospital because they believed I was carrying drugs in internally. (I) had my ticket deactivated and told I would be refunded.

“I don’t blame the event organiser. He was even p**sed off with had happened.

The festivalgoer claims she was told both the police and venue are involved in the controversial policy.

“But when I asked police three times who’s put this new rule in they gave me three separate answers, So not even a straight forward answer. — (it’s) absolutely ridiculous.”

“I’ve had people get searched at the same venue and get let back in but last night it was absolute no entry back inside even if found nothing on you because ‘they’re not willing to take that risk’.”

“Also the dog didn’t even sit at the time it had seen me. I was literally about to hand my ID over to security.

“Most times the dogs don’t even sit or are commanded to sit which is absolutely bulls**t. People being falsely detected shouldn’t have to be punished.”

Others replied to the festivalgoer's story on social media — saying it was an example of the “police state getting worse” and that those denied entry had been “stripped of their liberties”.

Another commenter said “people had their tickets ripped up in front of them even after being completely cleared”.

Another said: “I was strip searched, found nothing and then denied entry anyway. Absolutely stupid”.

A spokeswoman for anti-drug dog campaigners, Sniff Off said they had received numerous complaints from festivalgoers who had also not been allowed entry after they were searched — despite being found to have no drugs on them.

While police told news.com.au it was up the individual venue to determine who could enter their premises, a source said festival organisers were unhappy about the new rule being foisted upon them by police.

Sniff Off said only 45 out of 187 people were found with drugs at the festival, meaning that in 76 per cent of searches, no drugs were found.

Sydney Olympic Park: 3,000 capsules of drugs seized and a young woman has been left fighting for life after the Midnight Mafia Music Festival last night. #MidnightMafia #7News pic.twitter.com/myTTe0KvEj

— 7 News Sydney (@7NewsSydney) May 6, 2018

Event organisers Hard Styles United (HSU) said those who were denied entry after being searched will be offered a full refund.

“We do reserve the right to exclude persons attending any event as we are a licensed premises, this could be a for various reasons, however, we are unable to outline the tactics and policies relating to police operations,” a HSU spokesman told news.com.au.

When asked about the controversial decision to not allow people into the event even after a negative result on the strip search, NSW Police spokeswoman told news.com.au that anyone can be refused entry to a licensed premises if they are “suspected of drugs or alcohol”.

“Our top priority for police is the safety of all event staff, performers and music fans throughout the festival,” she added.

“We want everyone to have a great time but we won’t tolerate behaviour that risks the safety of others.”

The annual “hardstyle” festival attracted more than 14,000 ravers who watched on as 13 “international gangstas” took the stage.

Thirteen people were subsequently charged with drug supply while 32 people were issued with court notices for drug possession.

Among those arrested were a 21-year-old woman allegedly found in possession of almost 1600 MDMA capsules and an amount of cocaine; another 21-year-old woman allegedly carrying nearly 550 pills; and a 19-year-old woman allegedly caught with 200 capsules.

During the event, 256 people sought medical treatment and three were taken to hospital for drug-related health issues. Detective Chief Inspector Gus Viera said he was greatly concerned by the large number of pills seized.

Police say they are concerned with the amount of drugs they discovered. Picture: iStock

“We saw more drugs seized today than recent events, one of the largest we’ve seen, which clearly shows our messaging is not getting through,” Detective Chief Inspector Viera said in a statement.

“I am extremely disappointed with these results; however, we will continue to conduct these operations at upcoming festivals throughout the year.

“Those intent on bringing illicit drugs into these events will be caught, charged and put before the courts.”

He later told Seven News officers had been left speechless by what they found.

“I’ve never seen anything like it, the sheer brazenness of it is incredible,” he said.