New South Wales police are “disappointed” with the number of charges laid over the weekend on the first leg of the now American owned Stereosonic festival.

Over the two days and 81,000 revellers police searched and charged 196 individuals and a further 36 on transport to the venue. Of this 13 were charged with ‘supply prohibited drugs’ aka enough with intent to sell while 169 with possess prohibited drug as part of 830 searches.

Among drugs seized were MDMA, cocaine, cannabis, GHB and Ketamine.

One 21-year old was taken to hospital after being found not breathing on-site but has since been released while 13 others needed assistance.

Assistant Commissioner Mennilli gave a final word on the operation;

“With more than 220 revellers being charged with drug-related incidents, and one man lucky to be alive, it is distressing that people continue to risk their lives by ingesting unknown substances. We do not apologise for targeting illegal drugs, because they pose a very real health risk and can prove lethal. These operations are not about us being the fun police. They’re about us making sure revellers can have a good time in a safe, secure and drug-free environment.

It’s strange that the police’s stance on such things remains pushing the ‘lethal’ message when 14 people in total out of 81,000 over two days ended up in trouble?

Sure that’s a horrible thing but could it have been avoided? Was there any effort on education on the day be it only ingest lower amounts, was there any testing on hand to help people understand what they were taking? Wouldn’t that offer a much more safe and secure environment? Is it up to police or the promoters? Hence our push for drug testing to be implemented in Australia now.

While this was happening, hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars were earned by drug dealers who remain tax free in the black market who do not care for quality or safety of the final stages of where and who it’s being consumed by, the later of which are being charged for possessing small amounts of.

The charges follow the seizing of a shipment headed to Australia worth $1.5 billion that contained 2.8 tonnes of MDMA proving that Aussies have an appetite for illegal narcotics regardless of the price or war being fought. Add to the fact that mainstream media are reporting that schoolies is a ‘pinger fest’ and you’ve got a lot of people willing to try these drugs for the first time regardless of what police have been doing for a decade now.

These seizures along with number of arrests at Stereosonic prove the enormity of drugs still making it into Australia or being produced locally and again the money being made in the black market and eventual risks being placed on the user.

Surely there needs to be a better message being pushed here or different way to approaching illegal drugs in Australia. Be sure to check out the Pill Report for updates on what ecstasy is circulating and what’s inside of it.