DANCE RAID ARRESTS 80 FOR DRUGS

The annual Happy Valley Dance Festival turned sour for some with
police arresting almost 80 people and seizing a wide variety of drugs.
The three-day festival in Appin in Sydney's south-west was promoted
as a "new beginning" but again has been marred by drug-related incidents.

A major drug operation involving 30 officers and drug detection dogs
led to 78 people being arrested including four with supplying a
prohibited drug.

Police said 19 people were issued with court attendance notices for
drug possession and 17 were given official cautions. The alleged drug
suppliers were aged between 21 and 23.

"We have no problem with people who come to these events to dance and
listen to music but we will not tolerate the use of illegal drugs,"
Campbelltown Commander Ben Feszczuk said.

Superintendent Feszczuk said the police operation at the party had
"gone well" and demonstrated their hard line on drug users and suppliers.

Substances seized included 276g of cannabis, 113 ecstasy tablets, 53g
of amphetamines, 12g of heroin, 8g of ecstasy powder and other
unspecified powders and pills including speed.

Last year, a 26-year-old man collapsed and died at the festival after
taking a cocktail of drugs and not sleeping for three days. There was
also 10 overdoses at that event.

At this year's event, concertgoers, who each paid $75, were warned
police and sniffer dogs would attend and no alcohol or illicit drugs
were allowed at the event.

Hundreds of revellers were searched by police, who promoters had paid
to attend, and a large staff of security guards.

Organisers were reportedly disappointed with the police tactics,
claiming the user-pays police "presence" had been turned into a
full-scale operation.

According to the official Happy Valley website, the event is
Australia's largest outdoor showcase of electronic dance music.

"Happy Valley 2001: A new Beginning is the realisation of the values
and identity held by members of the electronic music community," the
web page reads. "Our vision is to create the perfect environment for
people of all ages and cultural backgrounds to come together in a
celebration of electronic music."

The festival included 90 DJs and bands in eight concert areas as well
as an outdoor cinema, skate ramps, food fair and camping ground.