A huge haul of drugs has been confiscated from revellers entering the Leeds festival as police hailed a ‘record year’ for seizures.
Officers were keen to show they were clamping down on festival-goers bringing in illegal substances following warnings over safety.
An officer at the event – whose headline acts included Kendrick Lamar and Sum 41 – tweeted a picture of a huge number of ecstasy tablets which had been seized.
West Yorkshire police officer tweeted this picture of the ecstasy tablets confiscated at this year’s Leeds music festival
A massive haul of other drugs were also taken off visitors, including class-A cocaine
Assistant Chief Constable Angela Williams tweeted: ‘A record year this year for the seizure of illegal drugs-the dogs are working flat out. Don’t risk your health or your future please.’
Meanwhile, cannabis, ketamine and other pharmaceutical drugs were confiscated from people attended the event at Bramham Park.
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.
Earlier this year, the families of two people who died at Mutiny festival in Portmouth issued warnings over drugs at music events.
Research has shown the levels of MDMA, the active ingredient in ecstacy tablets, has increased in recent years.
There are also widespread concerns over the use of synthetic drugs, formerly known as legal highs, the dangers of which are still unknown.
Leeds festival goers had to battle a sea of mud at the event after heavy rain yesterday. Some were seen sliding down boggy hills on inflatable mattresses.
Some did not even reach the event, with police pulling over and examining vehicles on the way
The festival was hit by bad weather, with revellers battling mud and rain to enjoy the music