Pills in every colour of the rainbow: Police reveal record drugs haul from Leeds festival
A RECORD haul of illegal drugs was confiscated at the Leeds Festival over the Bank Holiday weekend.
West Yorkshire Police posted images on its Twitter page showing the wide range of banned substances seized from revellers during the three-day music event.
Officers said teams of specially trained sniffer dogs worked ‘flat out’ at the festival at Bramham Park, West Yorkshire, which ended last night.
The pictures posted online showed a particularly large selection of ecstasy pills, labelled under the Class A drug’s chemical name MDMA.
Officers also confiscated significant quantities of cocaine, also a Class A drug, as well as the horse tranquiliser ketamine, cannabis and pharmaceutical tablets.
Possession of a Class A drug is punishable by up to seven years in prison, an unlimited fine or both. Those caught with intent to supply a class A drug can face up to life in prison and an unlimited fine, or both.
Angela Williams, assistant chief constable of West Yorkshire Police, wrote on Twitter: ‘A record year this year for the seizure of illegal drugs – the dogs are working flat out.’
She advised festival-goers: ‘Don’t risk your health or your future please.’
Those attending the festival were warned about a dangerous designer drug being circulated as ecstasy.
Drug users who thought they were buying pure MDMA were instead given a stimulant called n- ethylpentylone, which appears similar to ecstasy but is three times as strong and can cause heart problems.
The Loop, a non-profit drug testing organisation, said those who take the ‘potentially lethal’ drug have ended up in medical tents suffering from agitation, paranoia and a raised pulse and blood pressure. The drug, which comes in crystal form, provides a similar euphoria to ecstasy but can keep a user awake for up to 36 hours, resulting in severe temporary psychosis.
It has been circulated at other music festivals including Boomtown in Hampshire and Boardmasters in Cornwall.