Aug. 23—GEORGE — Over the weekend, a concert at the Gorge Amphitheater was the subject of an extensive drug investigation led by multiple law enforcement agencies, according to a news release from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.
“It went smoothly next to the part where the weather front came in and the show was paused resulting in 70 mile per hour gusts that caused damage to the stage infrastructure and a windshield was shattered from flying debris,” GCSO Public Information Officer Kyle Foreman said.
The Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team – also known as INET – GCSO, the Moses Lake Street Crimes Unit, the Washington State Patrol Cannabis Eradication Team, the Law Enforcement Against Drugs Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations worked together to address illegal drug activity at the Bass Canyon Festival held at . Gorge Amphitheater.
“The narcotics investigations are focused on drug trafficking of quantities of drugs, instead of a personal quantity of drugs,” Foreman said. “But, it’s a drug-free venue because that’s the amphitheater’s policy. They sell alcohol on site and people can bring alcohol into the campsites but nothing else.”
According to the press release, concert events like Bass Canyon often attract drug users and distributors of illegal controlled substances. Throughout the weekend, police seized a quantity of controlled substances with an estimated street value of over $20,000.
“If it’s fentanyl, molly or anything big, you’re going to be subject to an investigation, which means they’re probably planning to sell or sell,” Foreman said.
The concentrated efforts led to 15 arrests, with suspects facing 68 drug distribution charges following ten separate investigations.
“It’s a comparable amount of arrests on weekends where narcotics enforcement is involved,” Foreman said.
The Gorge Amphitheater has a history of issuing a proactive stance on law enforcement presence at its concerts due to a notable illegal drug culture, according to the GCSO. This comes in response to numerous overdose incidents and a tragic shooting in 2023, where the perpetrator claimed that psychedelic mushrooms influenced his actions.
Spanning 125 acres, the Gorge Campground accommodated 15,000 people over the weekend, with campsites set up close together.