65 people have been charged and three others admitted to hospital following a rave at Sydney Olympic Park on Saturday night.
Police conducting a drug operation at the State Of Trance festival say they charged 55 people with drug possession and eight others with drug supply, including a 20-year-old man who was allegedly caught with 150 caps of MDMA, 26 ecstasy tablets and eight grams of cocaine.
A total of 45 people were treated on-site by medical staff, while three men — aged between 18 and 22 — were taken to Concord Hospital after suffering suspected drug overdoses. Thankfully now all three are in a stable condition.
But police have been left shaking their heads, with Commander of the South West Metropolitan Region Enforcement Squad, Detective Inspector Gus Viera, calling the results “alarming”.
“It never ceases to amaze me how many people ignore all the warnings – not only health warnings but the awareness that there will be a high-visibility police operation – then choose to carry illegal drugs into the venue,” he said in a statement.
“We’ve detected dozens of young people carrying substances which could not only result in a criminal charge but – if taken – could be life-threatening.
“We have police at all entry points checking for illicit substances, we have drug detection dogs conducting sweeps of the area, yet people still think they can bring drugs into these functions without being stopped,” he continued.
“Poor choices can have serious consequences and we urge all people attending these functions to party safely, look after your friends, and don’t risk your health or your good reputation.”
Three years ago, a 19-year-old man died and a 20-year-old man was left on life support following drug overdoses at the State Of Trance event.
It prompted calls for pill-testing from experts, which have so far gone unheeded.
