Another festival and, predictably, another host of arrests for drug-related offences, as Sydney police swooped on the city’s festival attendees over the weekend.
As Music Feeds reports, the sold-out hardstyle festival Midnight Mafia saw police search over 200 of the several thousand attendees, resulting in a total of 32 arrests for drug possession and the more serious charge of supply.
MDMA accounted for the majority of cases, with some arrests also made for cannabis and GHB, with four men charged with supplying a prohibited drug. Police have responded to the most recent spate of arrests, claiming that “Clearly the message is not sinking in.”
“Too many people are playing Russian roulette with their lives,” Detective Chief Inspector Gus Viera stated. “Not only is it extremely dangerous, but you are also risking a criminal record and future employment prospects.
“Not to mention the worry and concern you are causing your family and the unknown long term effects these drugs may have on your health. It’s time to start making better choices.”
Meanwhile, the case for pill testing at festivals rather than sniffer dogs is still being made in many corners, with Music Feeds reporting that Canberra festival Spilt Milk is pushing to be the first Australian festival to introduce the harm-reduction measures – despite the ACT Government knocking back plans to allow it at the recent Canberran leg of Groovin the Moo, and the NSW Government also standing similarly firmly against it.
