Man and a woman in stable condition after ingesting unknown substance at Lost Paradise Music festival

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

A man has died after a suspected drug overdose at a New South Wales central coast music festival where drugs were found in the stuffing of a barbecue chicken.

The 22-year-old Queensland man was taken to Gosford hospital about 8pm on Saturday but died a short time later, police said.

A man and a woman remain in hospital in a stable condition after ingesting an unknown substance and becoming sick at the Lost Paradise Music festival at Glenworth Valley, near Gosford, which advertises itself as a drug-free event.

About 11,000 people attended the festival which started on Friday and continues until Tuesday.

NSW police Acting Superintendent Rod Peet said there has been “determination” by some people to smuggle drugs in through “sophisticated” methods.

Drugs had been secreted in false compartments within Vegemite jars and inserted into the stuffing of a barbecue chicken, he told reporters in Gosford on Sunday.

Peet warned illicit drugs were manufactured with risky products in “questionable” circumstances by people with little care for the users.

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More than 180 people and 97 vehicles were searched during a police drug dog operation at the festival and three people have been charged with drug supply offences, police said.

A 21-year-old man from Drummoyne was charged after allegedly being found with 105 MDMA pill and a 23-year-old man from Elanora Heights was charged after allegedly being caught with 80 MDMA pills and 65 bags of cocaine.

Both men are due in Gosford local court on 18 January.

A 23-year-old man from Glendale, near Newcastle, was allegedly found with 26 MDMA pills, and was issued with a field court attendance notice for supplying a prohibited drug.

He is due to appear in the same court on 5 February.