Big Day Out for drug busts

[Tom]

THOUSANDS of music lovers packed into Olympic Park in Sydney today, partying to their favourite bands at the Big Day Out festival.

 

More than 55,000 revellers danced to bands including the Beastie Boys, The Chemical Brothers, The Streets, John Butler Trio, Grinspoon and Powderfinger.

But police were not impressed with the number of people arrested for drugs offences.

 

Sniffer dogs at the venue and on Sydney trains helped flush out more than 200 people allegedly carrying drugs such as cannabis, ecstasy, speed, cocaine and heroin.

 

Of the 200-plus people, 21 were charged with supply, police said late tonight, revised down from their earlier figure of 35.

 

One man was charged for possessing 19 ecstasy tablets and nine bags of speed.

 

Sixty adults and five juveniles received cannabis cautions.

 

Superintendent Inspector Greg Rolph said police were disappointed in the number of people allegedly carrying drugs, particularly because officers had warned concert goers about the presence of police and sniffer dogs.

 

"It appears that we still can't get the message across that drugs won't be tolerated as people have not heeded our warnings."

 

After appearing in Auckland, the Gold Coast and Sydney, the Big Day Out moves on to Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.

 

Author:news.com.au

Date:26jan05

Source:AAP

Copyright: © Herald and Weekly Times

 

[devus]

Sniffer dogs should be illegal, so what if people have drugs on them but what gives police the right to sniff you out for personal use. Drug dealers maybe but not personal use.

 

There are many ways to get rid of sniffer dogs by disgusing the smell with odorous substances. e.g coffee, onion, garlic...

 

I went to the Sydney BDO with a 1/4 in a packet inside filled with coffee... the dogs came.... nothing sus.

 

I regularlly travel via trains where dogs are present, so i would advise any1 who does go on public transport or to concerts that they least make a few attempts of disguising the drug.