'No place for drugs': Organisers issue stern warning ahead of Boardmasters
Police and festival organisers are working closely together to ensure everyone's safety. The message is clear for anyone travelling to the festival in Newquay this weekend with the intent of dealing illegal and potentially harmful substances: Boardmasters and the South West is no place for drugs.
To ensure the safety of everyone at the three-day festival, drug detection dogs will be in operation at all main gates, and searches are a condition of entry. Anyone found with illegal substances or banned items could be refused entry or removed from the festival, and police action may be taken against them.
Police and festival organisers are working closely together to ensure everyone's safety (Image: Supplied) Superintendent Ben Asprey, who is commanding police operations at the festival, said: "Drug suppliers don't sell drugs for fun or as a public service. They sell entirely for profit and have no concern about the harmful effects the substances they sell could have on people who buy them."
"Behind all illegal drugs is a chain of criminality, including exploitation, coercion and violence. In advance of Boardmasters, and as we do all year round, we will act on intelligence received and disrupt any attempts to bring harmful drugs into our counties."
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Last year, Levi Bethune-Jones, 37, and Luke Belcher, 36, both from Birmingham, were travelling to Boardmasters when officers stopped their van on the A30 near Bodmin. A search revealed a haul of substances, including MDMA, Ketamine, magic mushrooms, and nitrous oxide, all of which are illegal and potentially very harmful.
Levi Bethune-jones and Luke Belcher were jailed for drug offences (Image: D&C Police) In July of this year, the pair were jailed for three years and eight months each.
Detective Inspector Claire Nicholls, who led the investigation, said: "We hope this acts as a deterrent to anyone thinking of taking advantage of the young demographic of Cornwall's largest festival—we will not tolerate drug crime at any time, and we will take robust action.
"We always endeavour to keep our communities safe and encourage anyone with information about drug trafficking to report it."
If you have information about the potential supply of illegal substances, you can report it by using the online crime reporting form on the Devon & Cornwall Police website or report completely anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
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