Police have commended revellers and organisers following a four-day police operation at the Strawberry Fields Music Festival, which was held near Deniliquin over the weekend.
The festival was held on Lower River Road, Tocumwal, between Friday 18 November and Sunday 20 November 2016.
Officers from Deniliquin Local Area Command and the NSW Police Dog Unit conducted a high-visibility operation targeting anti-social behaviour, alcohol-related crime and drug offences.
During the police operation, officers conducted 750 random drug and alcohol tests around the Tocumwal area, with preliminary results showing 31 positive indications by drivers to illicit substances detected.
Police issued 23 cannabis cautions to attendees, and charged 27 people with possess prohibited drug offences and five people with supply prohibited drug offences.
Incidents of note during the festival included:
- Just before 5.40pm on Thursday 17 November 2016, police conducting random roadside breath testing on Lover River Road stopped a bus containing a group of festival goers. The driver returned a negative result and following approval, a drug detection dog indicated illicit drugs in a bag on the bus. A search resulted in police locating cannabis, MDMA, cocaine, and Xanax allegedly in the bag. The illicit drugs were seized for forensic examination. A 25-year-old man was arrested and taken to Finley Police Station, where he was charged with three counts of possess prohibited drug, and two counts of supply prohibited drug (indictable quantity). He was granted conditional bail to appear at Finley Local Court on 2 February 2017.
- Just before 1pm on Friday 18 November 2016, police were conducting random roadside breath testing on Lover River Road when they stopped a vehicle with South Australian number plates. The driver returned a negative result. Police located cannabis, a grinder, a hose and a ‘cone’ containing cannabis, prescription medication, ketamine, and 139 MDMA capsules allegedly in the vehicle following a search. The driver, a 20-year-old man, was charged with two counts of supply prohibited drug and three counts of possess prohibited drug and will appear at Finley Local Court on 2 February 2017.
- About 10.25pm on Saturday 19 November 2016, a teenage girl and a man were stopped within the festival grounds and spoken to. The pair was searched and police located 122 ‘star’ shaped ecstasy tablets, methylamphetamine, cannabis and cash allegedly on the two. The girl and man were arrested and taken to Finley Police Station, where the 21-year-old man was charged with two counts of supply prohibited drug (indictable quantity), possess prohibited drug, and deal with property proceeds of crime, to appear at Finley Local Court on 3 February 2017. The 17-year-old girl was charged with two counts of supply prohibited drug (indictable quantity), two counts of possess prohibited drug and deal with property proceeds of crime. She will appear at a children’s court on 3 February 2017.
Inspector John Aichinger, Deniliquin Local Area Command Duty Officer, said overall police were happy with the behaviour of festival goers.
"Police were happy with the majority of festival revellers who behaved well, enjoyed the festival safely and respected other attendees," Inspector Aichinger said.
"However, the 27 drug charges, 23 cannabis cautions issued and five charges of supplying drugs shows there are still some who think they can get away with possessing, transporting and trading illicit drugs.
"The event organisers were very co-operative with police on the site, which was well-received by organisers, other emergency services present, and the majority of attendees.
"We will continue to work with the festival organisers who assisted with the streamlined police operation, and will target drugs, alcohol-related crime and anti-social behaviour at future festivals.
"Our aim is to ensure music-lovers can attend festivals and enjoy themselves in a safe, drug-free environment and ultimately, make it back home to their loved ones safely," he said.
