Two arrests for allegedly concealing drugs at Sydney Olympic Park

IT SEEMED like the perfect plan to smuggle ecstasy into a major music festival. But police say they’ve cracked the cunning plan.

police presence at the event. In particular drug dog teams. There was an arrest yesterday of a man selling ecstasy.

TWO men have caught after allegedly attempting to smuggle drugs into a dance party — in one instance more than a week before the festival was even due to begin.

Over the last week, the two have allegedly been observed attempting to hide ecstasy pills in a venue at Sydney Olympic Park where the Stereosonic music festival is due to take place this weekend.

One was allegedly seen trying to drill a hole into a wall to stash the pills.

The organisers of Stereosonic hadn’t even begun setting up on site when the incidents happened and it’s thought the two, named by the Sydney Morning Herald as Zane Raffie and Ali Ghoneim, were looking to hide the drugs before the area was surrounded by security fencing.

Last Friday, police from Flemington in western Sydney were called to the park after Mr Raffie was allegedly seen damaging a building with a drill.

When confronted by security, the 21-year-old fled. Police caught up with him Green Valley in the city’s southwest, where they seized 10 ecstasy pills.

Police were again called to the Sydney Olympic Park about 8 o’clock last night after reports of suspicious behaviour by a man.

Officers searched the car of Mr Ghoneim where they allegedly found 95 ecstasy tablets.

Inspector Chris Laid, of Flemington Local Area Command, said stashing the drugs beforehand was going to desperate lengths.

“We know this happens so we’ve been regularly sweeping the area with drugs dogs over the last few days to make sure we find stuff before the park is fully locked down,” he told the SMH.

“At the end of the day, if you’re planning to take drugs in, you’ll get caught. If you’ve already secreted drugs, we’ve already found them so don’t bother turning up.”

Both men have been told they will be arrested if they try and attend Stereosonic. Mr Ghoneim will head to court in mid December while Mr Raffie will appear in the dock next year.

News.com.au has contacted Totem One Love, the organisers of Stereosonic, for comment.