Pubdate: Tue, 3 Jan 2006
Source: Border Mail (Australia)
Copyright: 2006 Border Mail
Contact:  http://www.bordermail.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1017
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

POLICE NAB 30 IN FESTIVAL RAID

MORE than 30 people will face court or counselling  after they were
arrested in a police crackdown at  Melbournes Summadayze rock music
festival.

Five of the 31 people arrested yesterday at the Sidney  Myer Music
Bowl have been charged with possessing  drugs, while two men will face
court at a later date  after they were charged with possession and
drug  trafficking.

Police said the 24 others arrested were first-time  offenders and had
either a small amount of drugs in  their possession or had taken drugs
and would have to  undergo drug counselling programs.

All of the arrests were made outside the venue and  police said that a
majority of the 23,000 patrons were  well behaved.

Supt Mick Williams said he was concerned that one of  the two men
charged with trafficking and possession  allegedly had a stash of
drugs on him.

"He had five or six different drugs there ... every one  of those
drugs very, very harmful," Supt Williams said.

"There was ecstasy, cocaine, amphetamine, ice and GHB."

About 30 officers and four sniffer dogs patrolled the
venue.

But Supt Williams said that police might never stamp  out the drug
problem at dance and rave parties where  there were always people
using drugs. 
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard Lake