In a major pre-festival operation, Cheshire Constabulary officers have uncovered a massive stash of illegal drugs buried underground at the Creamfields Festival site in Daresbury, Warrington.
As reported by sources including BBC News, specialist search teams combed the festival grounds days before an estimated 80,000 dance music fans are expected to arrive for the annual August Bank Holiday event.
Cornetto Pills & Nitrous Canisters: The Haul
The initial week of pre-event disruption searches concluded with the seizure of substantial quantities of Class A, Class B, and Class C substances. Photos released by Cheshire Police revealed bags of MDMA, ketamine tablets, and ecstasy pills pressed into custom shapes—including green Cornetto ice cream cone designs, Nike T90 logos, and stamps reading “It’s Coming Home.”
The seizure also included approximately 204 canisters of nitrous oxide, which were criminalized under UK law in 2023 as Class C drugs.
“Zero Tolerance”: Police Offer Cheeky Invitation to Owners
Superintendent Andy Blizard, overseeing the Creamfields policing operation, emphasized that individuals routinely attempt to outsmart security by burying contraband on site months in advance of the festival.
“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,” Blizard stated.
“We fully expect to find further quantities as our searches continue, leaving many of those who chose to bury these items very much disappointed when they arrive at the festival to dig them back up.”
In a tongue-in-cheek message to the culprits, Cheshire Police added that anyone who “buried a rucksack or hold-all bag at the site and would like it back is asked to get in contact with us,” noting that officers look forward to speaking with the owners directly.
Specialist search teams will continue sweeping the Daresbury grounds alongside festival security throughout the event weekend to enforce safety and zero-tolerance drug policies.
