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Australia: 80 arrested at Nimbin Mardi Grass |
A cannabis plantation has been discovered during a major police operation in which scores of people were arrested at Nimbin's annual Mardi Grass festival on the NSW north coast.
| By 2pm (AEST) today, police including officers from Sydney's riot squad, had made some 80 arrests connected to the two-day festival, known as a colourful alternative event.
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| "On Friday police executed a search warrant on a Basil Road, Nimbin, (property) in which two hydroponic cannabis-growing units were located," NSW police said in a statement.
"Police seized 1.4kg of cannabis leaf."
|  Nimbin in New South Wales, Australia
| No one has been arrested in relation to the discovery, but at least 24 people have been issued cannabis cautions and there have been three drink-driving charges, including a 28-year-old man who blew 0.175 after crashing his van.
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| Police have also seized cannabis, LCD, ecstasy, amphetamines and a quantity of cash, suspected of being the proceeds of crime, from one person allegedly selling drugs at the event.
| Just south of Nimbin, a 44-year-old man from Kempsey died yesterday after he was thrown from his motorcycle into the path of an oncoming car.
A female passenger was airlifted to Lismore Base Hospital with multiple injuries.
"We have put a strong emphasis on high-visibility policing during this year's festival with police working to reduce and prevent crimes before they happen and to maintain public order," Superintendent Bruce Lyons said in a statement.
"We have been targeting all illegal activities, from traffic offences, violence and anti-social behaviour through to the supply and possession of all illicit drugs."
The police operation ends tomorrow.
Copyright © 2008. The Sydney Morning Herald.
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