Police seize ecstasy pills ‘bound for T in the Park’

Saturday 9 July 2011

POLICE have seized ecstasy worth £80,000, which officers believe was bound for Scotland's biggest musical festival, T in the Park.

Custom byline text:

Catriona Stewart

Three men were arrested after raids on properties in Glasgow and South Lanarkshire as the first of an expected 85,000 revellers converged on the first day of the event which will see headline acts by Beyonce, Arctic Monkeys and Tom Jones at Balado airfield in Perth and Kinross.

Police warned that tablets six times stronger than normal have been sold in the west of Scotland, following the deaths of two men in Ayrshire last weekend. Lee Dunnachie, 22, of Prestwick, and 19-year-old Steven Kelly, of Patna, died in separate incidents. It is believed they had taken the super-strength pills.Strathclyde detectives said £60,000 worth of the drug was found at a flat in Castlefern Road, Glasgow, on Thursday evening, where a 48-year-old man was held.It followed the arrests of two men, aged 35 and 26, in connection with the alleged seizure of around £20,000 of the pills in Cambuslang on Wednesday.Detective Chief Superintendent John Mitchell: “I have no doubt a large quantity of these ecstasy tablets were bound for this weekend’s T in the Park festival. We are absolutely determined to rid our communities of serious and organised crime and will resolutely target those involved in the sale and supply of illegal drugs.”Tayside Police put leaflets on buses which revellers were taking to the venue in an effort to reinforce the message.Event commander, Chief Superintendent Craig Suttie, added: “We are aware of ecstasy tablets being pedalled in certain parts of Scotland, reported to be six times the strength of other ecstasy pills.“Clearly, anyone who takes such a drug is dicing with death. Indeed, anyone who takes drugs can have no inkling of its strength or what chemicals it might contain.“Please listen to the advice and avoid drugs altogether.”Meanwhile, music lovers said the predicted damp conditions won’t spoil the event.Despite a sunshine-filled start to the day, the rain and lightning predicted by forecasters earlier in the week began just an hour before the first act was due to take to the stage. But the dark clouds did nothing to take away from the festival spirit as revellers prepared for the 200 acts that will appear on 11 stages during the weekend.Steve Frew, from Toryglen, Glasgow, said: “We’ve heard that rain and thunder is expected over the weekend but that’s all part of the experience,” he said.“If you’re scared of a bit of water and mud then you should really be keeping away from Scottish music festivals.”His friend, Paul Smith, 23, added: “This is our fifth T in the Park and it’s the least pretentious, most fun festival I’ve been to. I can’t wait for Arctic Monkeys and Tom Jones. Rain or not, it’ll be a great weekend.”In a bid to ease the congestion that has clogged roads leading to the Balado festival site in recent years, organisers opened the campsite on Thursday night but the main arena did not open until 5pm last night. Festival-goers dressed in everything from cowboy outfits to fairy clothes had already turned the campsite into the scene of a giant party and said they were preparing for a hedonistic weekend.“It’s not all about the music,” said Jecca Pairs, from Leith. “Of course, that’s a big draw, but it’s about the atmosphere and the spirit of the event. Everyone’s had a couple of drinks, they’re relaxed and they’re determined to have fun. It’s amazing.” Last night fans were treated to a set by Arctic Monkeys – the band that headlined the main stage four years ago. Tonight Beyonce makes her debut.

Commenting & Moderation

We moderate all comments on HeraldScotland on either a pre-moderated or post-moderated basis. If you're a relatively new user then your comments will be reviewed before publication and if we know you well then your comments will be subject to moderation only if other users or the moderators believe you've broken the rules, which are available here.

Moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours. Please be patient if your posts are not approved instantly.

Police seize ecstasy pills ‘bound for T in the Park’

Commenting & Moderation

MOST READ

SPONSORED LINKS

MOST COMMENTED