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Eleven teenagers found with illegal substances after festival strip-searches
By Matt Bungard
Almost all of the dozen strip-searches carried out at an underage music festival provided a positive result, police have confirmed.
Two teenagers who were charged with drug supply were among 11 children who were allegedly found in possession of illegal substances at the Lost City music festival in Sydney on Saturday, with just one of the 12 strip-searches carried out finding nothing.
People arrive for The Lost City music festival at the Sydney Showgrounds on 22 February 2019.Credit: Brook Mitchell
"It is important to note if a person retrieves an item concealed internally and provides that item to police, that event is classified as a strip-search," a statement from NSW Police said.
On Monday, police were unable to confirm how many of the 11 children searched surrendered their substances voluntarily, but said that all searches were carried out in accordance with the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act, which include additional safeguards for children and vulnerable people.
These include that children under 10 cannot be strip-searched and that people under the age of 18 cannot be strip-searched unless a parent, guardian, or another person 'who is not a police officer and who is capable of representing the interests of the person being searched and whose presence is acceptable to that person' is present.
The police did not conduct any drug or alcohol testing at the festival but "worked closely" with event organisers who engaged a private contractor to conduct testing as part of a safety strategy.
Of the other nine people allegedly found with illegal substances, seven were allegedly found with MDMA, ranging from 0.4 grams to 11 capsules of the drug.
The remaining two were allegedly found with 4 grams of ice, and a concealed bag of alcohol, respectively.
The crowd of roughly 12,000 13 to 17-year-olds was almost universally well behaved, with only 27 ejections for intoxication, drug-related matters and anti-social behaviour.
The Lost City festival will continue this weekend in Brisbane.