700 of the 25,000 festival-goers who are said to have attended the event were treated by medical staff on the scene after overdosing on drugs. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she will do everything in her power to shut down the event and stop it from returning to the state following the “absolutely tragic” deaths. Police said 69 festival-goers were caught in possession of various drugs on Saturday, including MDMA, GHB, cocaine and ecstasy. Ten were charged with dealing, including two 17-year-old girls who police allege got 120 capsules into the venue by smuggling them in “internally”.
The organizers had warned ticket holders the festival’s drug policy was zero tolerance. “This means that all types of soft- and hard drugs are prohibited. If drugs are found, you will be handed over to the police,” a statement said. A spokesperson for the organizers of Defqon.1 after incidents said they were “deeply saddened by the tragic passing” of the pair and sent condolences to their families. Local detectives have formed a new police strikeforce to investigate the two deaths. Defqon.1 is an annual music festival playing mostly hardcore techno, house and trance music. It is has taken place since 2009 at the Sydney International Regatta Center.
