Third man charged with supplying drugs at Sydney music festival
A third person has been charged with supplying drugs at the Secret Garden Music Festival in Camden and dozens of people have been found with illegal drugs including MDMA and LSD.
Police and specialist units are also patrolling the Ultra music festival in Parramatta on Sunday - which has been placed on a list of "high risk" festivals by the NSW government - where they will be targeting drug possession and supply.
A 22-year-old man from Darlington was arrested at the Camden festival on Saturday afternoon after allegedly being found with 32 LSD tablets, an MDMA capsule and three tablets believed to contain dexamphetamine.
His arrest follows that of two women, aged 27 and 32, for supplying illegal drugs, including MDMA and cocaine, on Friday.
All three have been granted bail and are due to appear in court on March 26.
More than 4000 people attended the Camden festival on Friday and Saturday, while police searched 109 vehicles and 300 people.
In addition to the arrests, there were about 65 drug detections and 22 people will need to attend court next month for allegedly possessing drugs at the festival.
A number of people were also treated by health authorities at the festival for the combined effects of drugs and alcohol.
"It’s alarming that, on average, one in 100 revellers were already detected with illegal drugs at this festival. There is no such thing as a safe party drug and revellers are putting their lives at risk," Camden police area commander Ward Hanson said.
"Police were also supported by NSW Ambulance, NSW Health and the on-site medical provider with a number of people already treated for the combined effects of prohibited drugs and alcohol consumption."
Police are also targeting drugs at the Ultra music festival in Parramatta on Sunday, which was put on the NSW government's new list of 14 "high risk" festivals that have either had serious drug-related illnesses or deaths or have been found to have a high risk of overdoses by police and health authorities, and will be subject to a tough new licensing scheme.
"General duty and specialist units will be patrolling the venue and targeting the supply and possession of illegal drugs," a spokesman for NSW Police said.
"We want people to enjoy the festival but we want them to do it safely."