Festival ‘Supplied With Drugs Worth Sim’

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32166, 9 December 1969, Page 17

Festival ‘Supplied With Drugs Worth Sim’

(N-Z. Press Association—Copyrights MIAMI, December 8. Drug pedlars, sometimes smuggling drugs into the United States on secret low-level flights, are getting rich at outdoor rock festivals, according to the Palm Beach County, Florida, sheriff, William Heidtman, United Press International reported today.

Mr Heidtman, testifying yesterday before a congressional crime committee, said the November 28-30 festival in Palm Beach County was supplied with drugs worth SUSIm. Some of the drugs were flown in secretly, under the United States radar protection screen that guarded the coast

overnight around bonfires on the debris-covered hills 50 miles south-east of San Francisco. They hiked to cars parked as far as 10 miles from the concert site.

John Jaymes, president of Young American Enterprises, which promoted the Stones’ American tour, said the musicians had nothing but praise for the event The Stones had told him the concert “was the greatest turnout in the entire American tour.”

Mr Heidtman and Judge Frank Orlando, of the Broward County Juvenile Court, agreed that the festivals were being financed secretly. Mr Heidtman said it cost the promoter at least $300,000 to finance the Palm Beach festival even though he owned the property where it was held.

“There is still some question about where he got the $300,000 needed, before the festival to ensure the appearance of the entertainers,” Mr Heidtman said. The judge said a similar question existed about the financing of a festival scheduled for Broward County later this month. It is obvious that money for this event is coming from others than the owner of the race track where it will be teld,” he said. At Tracy, California, about 200 youngsters remained behind yesterday to clean up the mess left by 300,000 rock fans who attended a free concert by the Rolling Stones that left four dead. “I have about 200 volunteers but I need thousands,” said Mr Dick Carter, manager of the racetrack where Saturday’s concert was held. About 2500 persons camped