A LARGE-scale drug operation will be launched on Friday as thousands of people head to a controversial music event.
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More than 100 Victorian officers will join police from NSW as they clamp down on drug driving and possession at Strawberry Fields.
Victorian officers will set up roadblocks and have sniffer dogs targeting streets leading to the event, which is held near Tocumwal each year.
An alleged dealer was caught with a “smorgasboard” of hash, ecstasy, ketamine, cannabis, mushrooms and other substances heading to last year’s event.
Deniliquin police had 56 drug detections over two days last year and Victorian officers caught about 60 people with drugs over three days.
Officers caught 65 drug drivers and 51 people with drugs in 2013 and a man with a commercial supply of ecstasy in 2012.
![TESTING: Event organisers will offer drug and alcohol testing to those leaving Strawberry Fields. TESTING: Event organisers will offer drug and alcohol testing to those leaving Strawberry Fields.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/u2TKvX7hYXGMrKgrD4ZiFN/12fcec3b-2b1d-4a77-9f9d-9c07eb830480.jpg/r0_108_640_465_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Senior Sergeant Darren Wittingslow said roving patrols would also seek out festival goers.
“We’ve got the drug bus up from Melbourne and the state highway patrol,” he said.
“Automatic number plate recognition technology will be used.
“It’s a yearly operation and it’s unfortunate we need to attend that.
“But we need to make sure road users are safe and people are discouraged from carrying illegal contraband and taking drugs.”
Asked if he was confident of finding drugs, Senior Sergeant Wittingslow said there was a high chance offenders would be caught.
“There will be a small element of the community that the message is very hard to get through to,” he said.
“We will be there to enforce the message in whatever way we need to.”
Medical staff will attend the event to treat anyone affected by drugs and alcohol.
It will be at least the fifth time police have targeted those attending the music festival, which features 150 local and international musicians.
Organisers will also crackdown on drug-taking at the event.
“Car searches will be conducted on entry to ensure compliance with the banned items list,” the festival's website states.
The festival offers drug and alcohol testing for those leaving the festival on Sunday and Monday.
Officers will target people leaving after the three-day event has finished.