Rainbow Serpent tent contractor refused bail over drug find

An independent contractor hired by this weekend’s sold out Rainbow Serpent Festival in Victoria was refused bail when he appeared last Friday on drug charges.

Martin Joseph Mahoney, 35, faced the Ballarat Magistrates Court after he and a passenger Pedro Gomide, 36, were arrested two days before at a service station.

According to the Ballarat Courier, police alleged they found drugs in his Toyota Hilux ute distributed in bags, envelopes and zip lock bags.

These amounted to 260 grams of cocaine valued about $85,000, 84 grams of cannabis, 15 grams of MDMA, 25 grams of amphetamine and amphetamine paste and one litre of GHB.

Police contend there was also cash in the vehicle, totalling $12,453 in Australian currency and $6200 in American currency.

The two men face nine charges each, including three counts of trafficking a drug of dependence.

Brazilian-born Gomide who is in the country on an entertainment visa was refused bail the day before, the newspaper revealed.

Mahoney’s lawyer argued that his client was heading to the festival because his company Psyclone Tents was contracted to supply tents, and not because he was trafficking drugs.

In court, police also argued that Mahoney was travelling early to the festival to avoid sniffer dogs.

The two were remanded in custody until March 8.

The festival’s Survival Guide warns against drugs on-site and that police and sniffer dogs would be present.

Promoters also urge patrons to test for drugs and alcohol before leaving the festival.

If they test positive, says the Survival Guide, they should leave their cars behind, and take the shuttle to nearby towns to catch public transport back to Melbourne.

The Safety Guide also has strong positions on safe sex and consent, and the use of plastics, and again banned laughing gas from being brought in.

Rainbow Serpent is staged January 26 to 29 in Lexton,90 minutes out of Melbourne. About 15,000 patrons are expected.