Police Unearth Buried Drug Stash Ahead of Creamfields 2026
Cheshire police have uncovered a large stash of pre-buried drugs at the Daresbury Estate site ahead of Creamfields 2026, the UK electronic music festival running Thursday, August 27 through Sunday, August 30, 2026. Organizers expect 80,000 attendees over the weekend. Officers seized 204 canisters of nitrous oxide along with bags containing large quantities of MDMA, ecstasy and ketamine — all recovered before the crowds arrived. According to Far Out Magazine, the search operation is expected to continue throughout the event.
What police found
Superintendent Andy Blizard, who is overseeing policing for Creamfields 2026, said police reiterate a zero-tolerance policy on drugs at the festival every year, and every year they encounter people who stash drugs on site — sometimes burying them months in advance.
Blizard said a dedicated search team spent significant time combing the entire festival grounds before opening day, and expects more to be found as the event goes on. He also had a message for anyone who buried items on site: those who return to dig up their stash will find it's no longer there. He added that if someone buried a backpack or bag they intend to retrieve, they should contact police directly — officers are already working to trace ownership of the seized items.
Enforcement history at Creamfields
Per Warrington Guardian data, Cheshire police made 43 arrests and logged 186 offenses — most drug-related — during last year's Creamfields weekend. In 2024, there were 32 arrests and 125 offenses.
2026 lineup
- Calvin Harris
- Carl Cox
- Swedish House Mafia
- Disclosure
- Faithless
- Underworld
Event details
- Dates: Thursday, August 27 – Sunday, August 30, 2026
- Venue: Daresbury Estate, Cheshire, UK
- Expected attendance: 80,000
- Ticket price: not yet announced by organizers