Tomorrowland Festival Investigates Potential Drug-Related Death Amidst Mobile lab Operations
Antwerp, Belgium – Authorities at the Tomorrowland festival are investigating the death of a 35-year-old Canadian woman, with initial indications suggesting a possible link to drug use. The incident occurred last night, and the exact cause of death is currently under thorough examination by the Antwerp public prosecutor’s office.
The festival, which strictly prohibits drug use, is also employing a mobile laboratory to test substances seized by police. This initiative aims to identify the precise composition of drugs circulating at the event, thereby informing medical teams about potential health risks associated with specific substances. The mobile lab’s findings are also considered crucial for ongoing police investigations.
Drug seizures are a regular occurrence at Tomorrowland, with hundreds of confiscations made annually.Dealers apprehended at the festival face immediate legal proceedings, with special court sessions scheduled in Antwerp for October and December. While users typically receive fines or amicable settlements, the sheer volume of attendees makes it impossible for law enforcement to screen everyone. The direct on-site testing provided by the mobile lab offers valuable data for their research.
The use of “pink powders” has been noted,with concerns that their actual contents may differ significantly from what users expect. For instance, a substance believed to be cocaine could actually be ketamine, or an XTC pill might contain an unknown synthetic substance instead of MDMA, leading to unpredictable effects.
According to the Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI), there has been no discernible increase or trend in the use of pink powders in the Netherlands over the past five years. The institute has analyzed 480 pink powder samples during this period, with most containing only MDMA. A smaller portion was a mixture including MDMA, ketamine, and other substances. The NFI emphasizes that pink powders represent a minor fraction of the overall drug market in the Netherlands.
As of now, specific figures detailing drug-related incidents at Tomorrowland are not yet available. The examination into the Canadian woman’s death is ongoing.
