Police say ‘record amount’ of drugs seized at Splendour in the Grass music festival

Despite the ongoing concerns about drugs at festivals, police said heaps were taken into Splendour in the Grass with more than 200 arrested.

Police have said a “record amount” of illegal drugs were seized at music festival Splendour in the Grass over the weekend, with over 200 people arrested.

One man was arrested carrying allegedly 220 MDMA tablets. However, no one was taken to hospital.

The arrests come just days after an inquest in Sydney heard about the deaths of six young people at festivals, all of whom had ingested MDMA.

The coroner from that inquest was one of the attendees at the festival where she saw a demonstration of pill testing, supporters of which says gives people more information on the drugs they might take.

Splendour in the Grass is one of the biggest festivals in the music calendar and a magnet for fashionistas and so-called Instagram influencers.

NSW Police said officers staged a “high visibility operation” at the festival site, just to the north of the coastal town of Byron Bay.

The operation involved officers from Tweed/Byron Police District, assisted by general duties officers from across the north of NSW, as well as the NSW Police Dog Unit, Mounted Unit, Operations Support Group, Public Order and Riot Squad and Traffic and Highway Patrol Command.

Crowds enjoying the fine weather and good music at Splendour in the Grass 2019. Picture: News Regional Media.

Police said 200 of the 42,000 crowd were arrested, or about one in every 200 festival goers.

“During the operation, in excess of 350 drug detections were recorded with more than 2.8kg of illicit drugs seized, predominantly MDMA tablets and cannabis,” Police said in a statement.

“Of note, a 21-year-old Queensland man was arrested after police allegedly located more 220 MDMA tablets, cocaine and cannabis inside a vehicle at the site’s campgrounds. He was charged with supply prohibited drug greater than indictable quantity and possess prohibited drug. He was granted conditional bail.”

The man will face Tweed Heads Local Court on 5 August.

There was a heavy police presence during Splendour In the Grass. Picture: AAP Image/Regi Varghese.

Tweed/Byron Police District Commander, Superintendent Dave Roptell said that while he was pleased with overall crowd behaviour; people continued to bring illegal drugs into festivals.

“This year, a record amount of prohibited drugs was seized at Splendour in the Grass — it’s disappointing that despite the warnings, we continue to detect the possession and supply of these illicit substances,” Supt Roptell said.

“Not only is it a serious criminal offence, it is also harmful to your health; it can impact not only your life, but the lives of those around you.

“The safety of festival-goers remains our number one priority.”

Police said random breath and drug tests would be taking place in the roads leading away from Splendour to target festival goers who “refuse to obey the road rules”.

NSW Health told news.com.ua there were “no critical transfers” of attendees at Splendour to hospital.