Cheshire Police have uncovered a "large quantity" of drugs buried within the grounds of a UK music festival. Creamfields 2026 is set to take place in Daresbury, Cheshire, this week, with as many as 80,000 music fans anticipated at the annual event from Thursday (August 27) to Monday (August 31).
Pre-event searches uncover buried drugs
Ahead of the festival, Cheshire Police carried out 'pre-event disruption' work to prevent crime and disorder erupting. The activity included extensively searching the site with specialist officers who made an alarming discovery, reports the Liverpool Echo.
The first week of pre-event searches of the grounds concluded with officers discovering a "sizeable quantity" of class A, B and C drugs that had been concealed and buried at the festival site. The haul included approximately 204 canisters of nitrous oxide, along with large bags containing ecstasy, MDMA and ketamine tablets.
Zero-tolerance policy reminder
Superintendent Andy Blizard, who is overseeing the Creamfields policing operation, said: "Every year we remind those attending Creamfields that there is a zero-tolerance policy regarding drugs and, every year, we counter a number of brazen individuals who think they can outsmart us by concealing drugs from view or burying them at the site months in advance.
"Our specialist search teams have spent a considerable amount of time combing the grounds of the Creamfields site ahead of festival's opening later this week.
"We fully expect to find further quantities as our searches continues, leaving many of those who chose to bury these items very much disappointed to find them no longer where left them when they arrive at the festival to dig them back up".
Further searches planned
"Anyone who has buried a rucksack or hold-all bag at the site and would like it back is asked to get in contact with us - officers have already begun conducting enquiries to identify their owners and look forward to speaking to them soon."
During the festival, Cheshire Police said it will maintain a visible presence for festival-goers. More searches are planned.
