A young man is facing a potentially hefty sentence after police uncovered a ‘major drug dealing operation’ he was allegedly running from his campsite at Party In The Paddock this weekend.
More than 10,000 people filled Carrick, south of Launceston, for the four-day music festival, which began on Thursday.
Inspector Nick Clark said patrons had, overall, been well behaved during the festival, with no formal reports of assaults or other inappropriate behaviour made to police.
But, he said, a 21-year-old man from George Town was arrested after a campsite search unveiled “large quantities of speed and ecstasy” concealed within a vehicle.
The man was subsequently charged with major trafficking and other drug offences.
He was released on bail and is set to appear in the Launceston Magistrates Court on April 4.
Eight drug drivers were also caught leaving the festival grounds on Monday morning during a nearly seven-hour-long road safety operation on Oaks Road.
Out of more than 2,500 random breath tests conducted, 14 drivers were found to be under the influence of alcohol, including one P-plater, and one unlicensed driver was detected.
Five people also drove into the checkpoint without wearing seatbelts and eight P-platers were caught out for not displaying their plates.
