Record amount of drugs seized at Splendour in the Grass festival

A record amount of drugs were seized at Splendour in the Grass with authorities disappointed festival-goers are not adhering to warnings.

A police sniffer dog squad speak to a festival goer during Splendour In the Grass.

A police sniffer dog squad speak to a festival goer during Splendour In the Grass. Source: AAP

More than 200 people have been charged with drug offences and a record amount of prohibited drugs seized at Splendour in the Grass music festival.

A high-visibility police operation took place at the four-day Byron Bay festival starting Thursday, 18 July with 350 drug detections and more than 2.8kg of illicit drugs seized, predominantly MDMA tablets and cannabis.

"This year, a record amount of prohibited drugs was seized at Splendour in the Grass," Tweed/Byron Police District Commander Superintendent Dave Roptell said on Monday.
Punters enjoy US punk rock band Fidlar perform at Splendour in the Grass.
Punters enjoy US punk rock band Fidlar perform at Splendour in the Grass. Source: AAP
"It's disappointing that despite the warnings, we continue to detect the possession and supply of these illicit substances."

A 21-year-old man was arrested after he was allegedly caught with more 220 MDMA tablets, cocaine and cannabis inside a car at the site's campgrounds.

He was charged with supplying a prohibited drug greater than an indictable quantity and possessing a prohibited drug.

He was granted conditional bail to appear at Tweed Heads Local Court on Monday August 5.

NSW Health said there were no critical patients transported at the festival over the weekend.

Deputy State Coroner Harriet Grahame visited the festival on Saturday to view policing and medical measures the same week she had heard further witnesses as part of the NSW inquest into six drug-related deaths at festivals.

The coronial inquest will resume in September with Ms Grahame to hand down her findings in October.


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2 min read
Published 22 July 2019 3:50pm
Updated 22 July 2019 3:57pm


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