Author: spunsociety_36d1v8
Illegal Raves, Socially Distanced Events and VR Gigs: 2020 Changed How We Party
The act of partying isn’t just limited to blinding disco lights, a drunken haze and a debilitating hangover the next day. Parties have always been the purest form of escapism, an alternate reality where dancing till dawn is the only task on our to-do list. It’s where we tune out the struggles of our daily grind, possibly so we can grind with a complete stranger on a liquor-laced dance floor. It’s a form of release that keeps us closely bonded to a community of people we may have only got to know through mid-grooving glances. It’s a platform that nourishes our insatiable appetite to discover and devour a vast spectrum of music genres. Of course, we only truly grasped this deeper meaning in 2020. As pandemic panic set in early this year, lockdown restrictions left even the most devout revellers unable to access their outlet. Suddenly, substance-fuelled Saturday nights, once spent crammed in dimly lit basements brimming with vibrating bodies, were replaced with Netflix watch parties. Ironically, it’s when the world needed that exhilarating escape the most, that it became an unimaginable act. Yet, the concept of partying refused to shut up and sit in a corner. Over the last year, rave culture has metamorphosed in its attempt to improvise, adapt and overcome the upheaval of the times. ILLEGAL LOCKDOWN RAVES Even amid stringent lockdown restrictions across the world, illegal raves reminiscent of the 70s and 80s emerged as a hush-hush alternative to staying shut in. Everything from caves to underground bunkers to forests became nocturnal playgrounds for the young and restless. In the U.K., police identified more than 500 illegal gatherings since March, while similar parties were busted in countries including India, France and the U.S. “There is a danger involved, yes, but in a way that makes you want to do it even more. Getting away unscathed is the ultimate high,” Sourabh Chaterjee*, a 28-year-old photographer who attended multiple secret raves in Goa, told VICE. He insists that those who attended these raves generally lived alone, and did not buy into the media narrative around COVID-19. “I wouldn’t say it’s a hoax, but we have so many other diseases that also don’t have a proper cure or vaccine, like dengue. We still wore face masks and followed social distancing measures, but it didn’t feel right to give up the happiness, peace and love we get from these gatherings because of this virus,” Chatterjee said. HOUSE PARTY HANGS It wasn’t just the House Party app that emerged as an important form of interaction amid restricted lifestyles. In the new normal, house parties became the lockdown loophole that allowed groups of friends to gather and pause from the constant doomscrolling we’ve all been subjecting ourselves to. These parties were primarily attended by groups of ten people or less, and mainly emerged as a way for people to blow off steam after weeks where time felt fluid. “Without any social activity keeping my energy levels up, I just felt dead all the time,” Anurag Khar*, a 23-year-old business professional from Gujarat told VICE. After almost two months of staying shut in, Khar was overcome with the need to interact with his friends beyond a laptop screen. “About 12 of us met at my house, and to avoid getting caught breaking guidelines, they stayed over. We popped ecstasy and raged to electronic music. It was a big deal because we hadn’t partied like that in months,” he said. Similarly, many communities chose to move in together in a mutual space, including houses and event venues, where they could safely spend their nights vibing to underground beat scratches in the company of like-minded individuals. “At these parties, you’ll see people dancing, painting on canvases as well as bodies, doing pilates, performing fire dances, and even cooking or selling things,” Aerath Rajeev Radhakrishnan, a documentary filmmaker who moved into an events venue in Goa with his friends during the lockdown, told VICE. Radhakrishnan explained that these community sessions were important to not fall prey to the atmosphere of panic and isolation that initial months of the pandemic had prompted. SOME CLOSE-KNIT COMMUNITIES CHOSE TO MOVE IN TOGETHER TO KEEP THE PARTY GOING, WITH SLEEPOVERS EMERGING AS A 2020 HACK FOR RAVE CULTURE. PHOTO COURTESY OF AERATH RAJEEV RADHAKRISHNAN Sampriya Bhandare, a 24-year-old designer, also pointed out how these house parties helped friend groups get closer in an age of uncertainty. “It made our crew smaller, and all the obligatory extras were out,” she told VICE. “It was just a few friends meeting at a friends house on a weekend and drinking together. Our parties went from 100 to zero, but it was still better than staying at home.” DIGITAL RAVES But for many, the idea of going to a space filled with unfamiliar faces seemed careless or impossible. So, they turned to virtual reality instead. Perhaps the poster child of the pandemic, digital raves emerged as the only alternative for partygoers who weren’t comfortable stepping out of their homes to channel their socially starved frustration. From electronic music festival Tomorrowland to indie concerts and artist covers to the world’s most exclusive Zoom parties, the internet became a vessel for VR raves. “It started with simple Instagram or YouTube lives, and then progressed into more production-heavy, studio-based gigs that allowed artists to connect with their audience digitally,” Arjun Shah, the founder and CEO of talent management agency Shark & Ink, told VICE. Shah explained that this scene not only made artists, especially international artists, more accessible to everyone with internet access due to lower ticket prices, but it also helped artists get more creative with their work. “We organised a digital gig where we used home equipment to recreate the live experience. Instead of CO2 guns, we used deodorant sprays, and asked friends or flatmates to throw confetti on the DJ using their hands,” he said. For many artists who suddenly found their livelihoods harshly impacted by pandemic restrictions, digital raves, through virtual reality platforms like Second Life or games like Minecraft, became a saving grace. But it wasn’t an easy transition, especially for artists familiar with live performances. “You don’t have the right sound system or an audience reacting to your music, so it doesn’t feel close to the real thing,” Ketan Bahirat, an electronica artist known by his stage name Oceantied, told VICE. “It’s great because it pushes the boundaries, even if it took months to get used to.” VIDEO GAMES BECAME AN IMPORTANT PLATFORM TO HOST LIVE GIGS IN AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE. PHOTO COURTESY OF OCEANTIED. While digital raves couldn’t exactly replicate the energy, feel, touch and sensory aspects of a live gig, for many it was a simple pleasure to look forward to in a gloom-ridden phase. “It felt as though you’re actually going for a party in which you buy the ticket to the show, get some food and drinks with your buddies, and once the show begins, immerse yourself into this world of virtual reality,” Arjun Sood, a 24-year-old DJ and engineer, who attended a 3D virtual reality festival called Retro Future, told VICE. “This entire experience definitely gave me an adrenaline rush since it felt like we could party freely for the first time.” In this way, virtual raves substituted the feelings of escapism that people were seeking at these parties. “Even Zoom parties where you didn’t know 80 percent of the attendees became a replacement and release for the catharsis people experienced on dance floors,” Vansh Panjabi, a 25-year-old content strategist and DJ, who began a volunteer-based quarantine radio show to encourage micro-raves in people’s homes, told VICE. “It’s reinvigorated the scene and helped people expand their music tastes.” SOCIALLY DISTANCED FESTIVALS An LA-based design firm may have created the Micrashell suit to make socially distanced parties seem plausible, but many quickly realised that looking like a Power Rangers reject at a rave probably wasn’t the most feasible. So, event organisers came up with even more alternatives to make regular music festivals and gigs feel like safe spaces. In Germany, the first socially distanced festival featured ravers grooving within the confines of a demarcated circle while wearing masks. Similarly, at a music festival in Slovakia, a physical grid separating partygoers with a plastic tape was created to adhere to social distancing. Open air venues, temperature checks and mandatory face masks emerged as a prerequisite for almost every legally held rager. A HIGH NOTE As the scene slowly improvised and adapted to the times, so did the partygoer’s choice of drugs. “I would normally do cocaine or MDMA at a party, but for a virtual gig, my friend and I did a stamp of acid. It was really chilled out and we could trip out to the visuals and music without feeling any awkwardness about dancing,” Supriya Sharma*, a 26-year-old marketing professional based in Mumbai, told VICE. “I’m not a hardcore drug user, but I did enjoy occasionally doing ecstasy or MDMA at a rave,” Simran Singh*, a 24-year-old visual artist told VICE. “But since the scene became a more low-key vibe, I’ve stuck to beer and hash joints to keep me high. Honestly, don’t think I could have gotten through this year without my doobies.” *Names changed to protect identities Follow Shamani on Instagram and Twitter.
Ravers Tell Us What Actually Happened When EggTek Was Violently Shut Down by Police
By Mattha Busby April 16, 2026, 5:39am “We couldn’t hear any music when we were walking past the houses,” said Amelia*, a 23-year-old who’d driven from London but was forced to hike more than three hours across rugged terrain from a nearby village late on Easter Saturday after police closed all roads leading to the free party. “Only as we started walking through the forest did we start to hear a faint little bit of bass.” The organizers had sent Eggtek’s attendees the party’s general “loco,” or location, around 7PM. Then, at 10PM, they disclosed the exact coordinates to a countryside site in Dorset, a 15-minute dirt-track drive from the main road. By the early hours on Sunday, across a carnival-esque sprawl of more than four soundsystems, at least 1,000 ravers were dancing to hard trance, hip-hop and free tekno. “Everyone was so chill,” said Sophie, 25. “We just wanted to enjoy ourselves.” The sun rose and by all accounts a spectacular time was universally had at Eggtek, an annual free party, or “teknival,” which switches locations each year. But the merriment would prove fleeting. IMAGE BY @DZNTEK. IMAGE BY @DZNTEK. The police were determined to shut down the unlicensed event, which was taking place on Military of Defence land near a firing range. A helicopter was dispatched to monitor events before uniformed officers were deployed at midday. Relations between the constabulary and the ravers seemed cordial enough during the afternoon, to the extent that a group helped officers push free a police van that was stuck in a ditch. But then, from 5.30PM on Easter Sunday, more than 100 riot police arrived on the scene. Some of the officers came with dogs who were clearly unsettled by the intensity of the music. “The dogs were getting so agitated that they were attacking their handlers and even other police dogs,” said Jasmine, 21. = “They just marched up into the field in full riot gear from the get go, batons drawn, and started cutting the rigs’ wiring straight away,” said Steven, 24. A veteran of the free party scene, he notes that police intervention is to be expected, and likened having a party busted to getting caught misbehaving at school. But this was “really militant.” Jasmine added: “When the police turned up they immediately started shoving us.” One by one, the riot police shut down each stage, barging their way through the crowds to the soundsystems shouting, “Get away from the rigs” and seizing the decks. Quite soon, music remained playing at only one soundsystem, and lines of officers surrounded the rig in formation from the back and sides, ensnaring the dancers in a pincer movement, video showed. “They started aggressively pushing us,” said Amelia, who was attending her first free party. “They all had their riot shields up, and they were whacking people. There was no need for it whatsoever.” Dorset Police claim that their officers “came under attack from missiles and faced a violent and hostile reception.” But the ravers maintain that plastic bottles were thrown only after the police had aggressively encircled them, pushing back the crowds with shields and sparking skirmishes in which officers used pepper spray. “My eyes were blurry for three days due to the amount of pepper spray used,” said Anna, a 19-year-old from Bristol who has epilepsy. “Then when I was covering my eyes I got bashed on the head.” The ravers faced off with officers who had established a cordon in front of the last soundsystem standing. “They never approached us other than right at the end when they came in and started damaging our equipment, unplugging stuff, and pushing our mates over,” one of the organizers of the rig said. IMAGE BY @DZNTEK. Words were exchanged between officers and ravers, and the partiers “tightmoshed” into the officers’ shields. “We said ‘OK, we’re going to mosh against the shields if you’re going to push us into a corner,’” said Steven. This provoked a response of overwhelming force. “I got hit over the neck with a baton,” said Steven. The officer told him: “You’re too close.” Another man was repeatedly bludgeoned in the head, suffering at least one hit while he was being held down by three officers, a viral video showed. Blood poured freely from his head as officers pressed a shield into his neck and clutched his hands behind his back as he lay prone on the earth. “It was almost like a George Floyd situation,” said Sophie. “The police were literally beating him. It was terrifying to watch.” The man is said to have suffered a fractured nose and wrist, in addition to the serious cuts to his head. His family did not wish to comment. One younger woman of slight stature was pictured with a bleeding head wound. Another video shows a police officer throwing a ferocious right hook. One photo shows a dog jumping and biting a man on the arm. The heavy-handed approach, multiple attendees said, inspired a group of ravers to hold their ground and protect the generator which was powering the last soundsystem, using their bodies as human shields. A hardcore track with a manic bpm played as officers wielding riot shields inched closer to the generator, which by now was encircled by a group of ravers sitting down around it. The events were unfolding in the shadow of a huge poster saying “Protect the Generator,” which had been erected at the beginning of the party, and another with an illustration parodying riot police which included the phrase acronymized as “ACAB.” IMAGE BY @FUJITVE Against this backdrop, officers grabbed one woman who was dancing in front of them and took her behind their line, video showed. They barged others who were guarding the generator with their shields. Steadily, they physically imposed themselves upon the machine, full of hot petrol, and extracted it. The party finally wound down around 7PM as the music was turned off for the last time, with police making ten arrests for offenses including assaulting an emergency worker. Officers also seized another of the rigs under section 64 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, which was passed by John Major’s Tory government in an attempt to curb the free party movement, and gives police sweeping powers to shut down gatherings of over 20 people on open land listening to music consisting of “a succession of repetitive beats.” But organizers and attendees said they would not be dissuaded from continuing the party elsewhere the following weekend. “We’ve literally been dragged out of places of residence by police before,” the organizer said. “We’ll never be put off this.” Sophie looks at the events as part of a centuries-long class struggle between the landed and the landless—with the party staged just a stone’s throw from the Lulworth Estate where Camp Bestival is held. “We don’t have the freedom to do anything,” she said. “If you can’t dance in a field with your mates, what can you do? No one wants to go into an overpriced club.” One local resident told MailOnline: “We have festivals here, we can hear Bestival, that’s very close to us, but that’s all properly organized and people pay to get in and that’s fine. I think it’s the fact that whichever way you look at it, they’re breaking the law by being there.” After night had fallen on Easter Sunday, the police operation’s commander, inspector Lee Turner, defended the “professionalism” of his team and hailed the “successful conclusion” of the party. The next day, the force said it would internally review “complaints in relation to alleged use of force by officers.” As for the photograph posted on the force’s Instagram with officers standing amidst a heap of empty cans, multiple attendees claimed police had kicked the binbags and scattered the rubbish themselves. “During that whole fiasco at the end they split open all the binbags that myself and others had spent all day picking up,” said the organizer. “As soon as they’d dropped their riot shields, we cleaned up the litter and took it home in cars because they’d taken the van that was meant to take the rubbish.” He insists that the East Lulworth field was left effectively in the condition it was found, where those who made the pilgrimage got to enjoy a temporary utopia for less than 24 hours until “Babylon” reared its head. There seems little doubt that Eggtek will be back next year, at another location to be disclosed just hours before it starts. After all, the free party scene has survived and thrived for decades, despite the authorities’ attempts to force raves back into licensed venues, where profits can be made and taxed. Police only seized one of the generators at Eggtek, anyway. “I still want to do this when I’m 40,” said Steven. “It’s about freedom.” *Names have been changed to protect privacy. Follow Mattha on Instagram @matthabusby. Images by @dzntek and @fujitve. Tagged: DRUGSEGGTEKILLEGAL RAVES
Sharks in the Bahamas Are Full of Cocaine, Caffeine, and Painkillers
The crystal clear waters of the Bahamas are filled with enough traces of human pharmaceuticals and illegal drugs that it’s showing up in shark blood. A new study published in Environmental Pollution found that sharks off the coast of the Bahamas are carrying trace amounts of various drugs. The research team, led by biologist Natascha Wosnick, analyzed blood samples from 85 sharks near Eleuthera Island. Nearly a third tested positive for substances including caffeine, anti-inflammatory drugs like acetaminophen and diclofenac, and in one case, cocaine. Species affected included nurse sharks, Caribbean reef sharks, and a juvenile lemon shark. SHARKS IN THE BAHAMAS ARE EATING TONS OF DRUGS Caffeine showed up most often, followed by over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen and acetaminophen. You don’t think about it once it clears up your headache or dissipates a muscle ache, but those common everyday painkillers do eventually leave your system and, as this study shows, eventually make their way into our waters. The researchers say the likely sources are all human-related, such as sewage runoff, waste discharge, and, of course, tourism. Tourists wading in the beautiful waters of the Bahamas will pee in those beautiful waters, releasing trace amounts of whatever drugs they’ve imbibed, both legal and illegal. Cocaine was an isolated finding, and its presence in the shark’s blood rather than its muscle tissue suggests it had been exposed fairly recently. The researchers point out that sharks are opportunistic feeders who investigate unfamiliar objects they encounter, just in case they might be edible. That includes inedible objects like, say, a brick of cocaine that was either lost or discarded as it was being trafficked. The most concerning part of all this is the biological changes that could result from this wild cocktail of drugs. Sharks with contaminated blood showed shifts in metabolic markers tied to stress and energy use. The researchers aren’t sure what the long-term effects of exposure might be, but similar studies in other species have shown that exposure to stimulants like caffeine can alter behavior, affecting feeding, movement, and the animal’s response to risk. Obviously, the natural headline here is that there are sharks on drugs in the Bahamas. While that was technically happening, that’s a much more sensationalistic take. The reality is that we humans are blissfully unaware of the fact that the drugs we put in us eventually leave us and end up saturating whatever they flow into, like microplastics. It’s a kind of contamination that’s easy to ignore because it’s invisible. Just because we can’t see it doesn’t mean it doesn’t have serious ramifications… some of which might be directly affecting our food chain.
Authorities Seize $15,000 Worth of GHB From Marin Nail Salon
Federal and local authorities conducted a sting operation after U.S. Customs agents recently discovered a package full of the party/date-rape drug GHB being shipped to a nail salon in Fairfax. The Marin County Sheriff’s Office’s Special Investigations Unit announced this week that it had assisted federal authorities in arresting a suspect, Long Tran, after Tran was found to be receiving 3.5 kilograms of GHB in the mail, presumably from overseas. The package had been flagged by Customs agents and handed over to Homeland Security, who then contacted the Marin County Sheriff’s Office. Bringing in the help of the U.S. Postal Service, authorities monitored the “controlled delivery” of the package to the unnamed nail salon in Fairfax. After Tran took custody of the drugs, he was placed under arrest, the sheriff’s office said. GHB (gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid), well known as a party drug in the rave and circuit party communities, is also known to be used as a date-rape drug — though the Marin County Sheriff’s Office seemed to only believe it was the latter. The drug is used clinically as a treatment for narcolepsy, and acts as a central nervous system depressant, with effects similar to alcohol. 3.5 kilograms is equivalent to 3,500 doses, authorities say, which would have a street value of $15,000 to $20,000. It’s not clear when Tran may have his first court appearance.
Five Ways to do Crystal Meth
Crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as crystal meth, ice, or glass, is a potent synthetic central nervous system stimulant. It is highly addictive and illegal in most jurisdictions for non-medical use. It comes in crystalline form or powder and produces intense euphoria by flooding the brain with dopamine. However, it carries severe short- and long-term health consequences, including addiction, cardiovascular damage, psychosis, and “meth mouth” (severe dental decay). This article outlines the main methods of use—smoking, snorting, injecting, and oral ingestion—along with their onset, effects, perceived benefits, and significant drawbacks. Information is drawn from public health and medical sources for educational purposes. All methods are dangerous and can lead to overdose, dependence, and life-altering harm. Professional help is strongly recommended for anyone struggling with use. 1. Smoking (Most Common for Crystal Meth)Users heat crystals in a glass pipe and inhale the vapors. Onset and Duration: Effects begin within seconds (nearly immediate “rush”), peaking quickly and lasting several hours (up to 8–12+ hours depending on dose and purity). Effects: Intense euphoria, heightened alertness, increased energy, reduced appetite, and elevated heart rate/blood pressure. Users often report a powerful initial “flash” or rush. Perceived Benefits: Rapid onset provides quick pleasure and productivity; easier to titrate (control dose) than injecting for some users; avoids needles. Drawbacks and Risks: Lung irritation and potential respiratory damage; burnt lips or fingers from hot pipes; high addiction potential due to the intense, repeatable rush; contributes to “meth mouth” through dry mouth, teeth grinding (bruxism), and poor hygiene during binges. Repeated use leads to tolerance, crashes with severe depression/fatigue, and increased overdose risk when redosing. Long-term: brain changes, paranoia, and cardiovascular strain. 2. SnortingUsers crush crystals into powder and snort through the nose, often with a straw or rolled bill. Onset and Duration: Effects start in 3–5 minutes, with a strong high lasting several hours. Effects: Euphoria, energy, focus, and stimulation similar to smoking but without the immediate “rush.” Perceived Benefits: No equipment like pipes or needles needed; perceived as less “hardcore” than injecting; relatively quick onset. Drawbacks and Risks: Damage to nasal tissues, including nosebleeds, sinus infections, perforated septum, and chronic runny nose or pain. Irritation from crystals can cause long-term breathing issues. Slower onset than smoking/injecting may lead to redosing and higher overall consumption. Shares general meth risks like anxiety, paranoia, and addiction. 3. Injecting (Intravenous – “Slamming”)Users dissolve the drug in water and inject it directly into a vein (sometimes other routes like intramuscular). Onset and Duration: Almost immediate (seconds), producing the most intense rush. Effects last hours but the peak is sharp. Effects: Extremely powerful euphoria, energy surge, and stimulation—often described as the strongest high. Perceived Benefits: Maximum intensity and bioavailability; rapid effects appeal to those seeking the strongest experience. Drawbacks and Risks: Highest risk of overdose due to rapid delivery. Vein damage, collapsed veins, abscesses, and infections (including bacterial, HIV, and hepatitis from shared needles). Endocarditis (heart valve infection) and other systemic issues are common. Requires sterile equipment; non-sterile use dramatically increases harm. Transition to injecting often signals escalating dependence. 4. Oral Ingestion (Swallowing)Users swallow crystals, powder, or pills (sometimes dissolved in liquid or wrapped in tissue—”parachuting”). Onset and Duration: Slowest onset (15–30+ minutes), with effects building gradually and lasting longer. Effects: Smoother, less intense euphoria and sustained stimulation without a sharp rush. Perceived Benefits: Discreet; no damage to lungs, nose, or veins; easier to dose accurately for some; lower immediate intensity may feel more manageable. Drawbacks and Risks: Delayed onset can lead to redosing and accidental overdose. Gastrointestinal irritation, nausea, or stomach issues. Still produces full systemic effects like increased heart rate, anxiety, and long-term neurotoxicity. Less efficient (some drug metabolized by liver), so higher doses may be used. Other or Less Common Methods Rectal (“Booty Bumping” or Plugging): Dissolving and inserting into the rectum. Rapid absorption similar to injecting with high bioavailability but risks rectal tissue damage, infections, and pain. Combinations with other substances increase overdose and interaction risks dramatically. Common Effects Across MethodsShort-term positives reported: Euphoria, alertness, confidence, increased sociability/sex drive, suppressed appetite, and prolonged wakefulness. Universal risks: Elevated heart rate and blood pressure (risk of heart attack/stroke), hyperthermia, anxiety, paranoia, hallucinations, aggression, insomnia, and “tweaking” (compulsive behavior). Binge patterns (“runs”) lead to crashes with exhaustion and depression. Long-term: severe addiction, cognitive impairment, psychosis, weight loss, skin sores, dental destruction, liver/kidney damage, and increased infectious disease risk. Overall Comparison and Harm Reduction NotesSmoking and injecting deliver the fastest, most intense highs but carry higher addiction and acute risk profiles. Snorting and oral use are slower but still highly damaging over time. No method is “safe”—bioavailability and intensity influence how quickly dependence develops. Important: Meth use is associated with high rates of substance use disorder, mental health issues, and overdose (especially when mixed with fentanyl or other drugs). If you or someone you know uses, consider harm reduction strategies like not using alone, testing substances when possible, using sterile equipment, and staying hydrated—but the best harm reduction is seeking help to stop. Resources: Contact SAMHSA National Helpline (1-800-662-HELP) or local treatment services for confidential support. Recovery is possible with professional assistance. This information is for educational purposes only and does not encourage use. Crystal meth is extremely harmful and addictive.
HOW TO BLOW FAT DAB CLOUDS!!!!!!
18+older. High temperature crates a denser thicker vapor cloud. Use a rig with the most airflow. Do not air out your dab! Try it!
Cops Bust Mission District Van Packed With Cocaine, Magic Mushrooms, $600,000 in Cas
Is it a good idea to have three kilos of cocaine and 600 grand in cash sitting in your van at 17th and Shotwell streets? Probably not, and two people learned that the hard way in a recent Mission District drug bust. An apparently suspicious van was parked at 17th and Shotwell streets on Thursday, May 30. SFPD received a tip that something sketchy may have been going on with that van. So they got a warrant to search said van, and as seen below, by golly did that tip prove to be correct. “Large quantities of various narcotics,” indeed. SFPD says in a Friday press release that “Officers located and seized the following from inside the vehicle: large quantities of suspected narcotics including approximately 3 kilos of cocaine HCL, ketamine, mushrooms, acid, suspected MDMA, methamphetamine, and various other prescription narcotics as well as over $600,000 in US currency.” Two suspects who are both 46 years old, Robert Pritchard and Ronald Butera, were both pulled out of that van and arrested, Kilos, as you would imagine, will account for additional charges. Both are also charged with possessing and transporting controlled substances, and Butera already had an outstanding warrant on him for other charges. And according to KRON4, a tipster’s information led to the bust. “A community member alerted SFPD about a vehicle that may have been involved in drug distribution,” that station reports. While arrests have been made, this remains an ongoing investigation. If you have any information, you’re asked to call the SFPD Tip Line at (415) 575-4444, or Text a Tip to TIP411 and begin the message with “SFPD.” Tipsters can remain anonymous. Related: Authorities Seize $15,000 Worth of GHB From Marin Nail Salon [SFist] Image via SFPD
SFPD Busts Suspects With Two Pounds of Drugs In an RV In the Tenderloin
An RV happened to have nearly 1,000 grams worth of fentanyl, meth, and cocaine inside when the SF Police Department entered it with a search warrant Thursday, and two suspects have been detained for narcotics trafficking. What KPIX reports was a two-month long SFPD investigation ended Thursday with the arrest of two suspects for narcotics trafficking. The duo were apparently working out of a motor home which police obtained a search warrant to enter last week, and the Chronicle reports that the SFPD found more than two pounds of illegal drugs inside the vehicle. “On Thursday, August 8, 2024, at approximately 10:00 p.m. San Francisco Police arrested two suspects involved in narcotics trafficking and seized a total of 927 grams of illegal narcotics after serving search and arrest warrants,” SFPD said in a Tuesday morning Facebook post. “Officers seized suspected Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, Base Cocaine, Heroin, Salt Cocaine, and other evidence related to narcotics trafficking.” The suspects were not both inside the RV at the time. According to KRON4, 32-year-old Fany Reanos-Moreno was in a separate vehicle at Van Ness Avenue and Market Street, but still arrested as part of the operation on suspicion of felony narcotics trafficking. Meanwhile, 57-year-old Alexander Wyatt was in the RV on the 1000 block of Turk Street when SFPD made the arrests. Wyatt was also charged with possession of a set of brass knuckles, resisting and delaying arrest, possession of narcotics, and for having an outstanding arrest warrant from the San Joaquin Sheriff’s Office. SFPD also raided two homes in Oakland as part of the operation, though it’s unclear if these were Reanos-Moreno’s or Wyatt’s residences. While arrests have been made, this remains an open investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the SFPD tip line at 415-575-4444, or text a tip to TIP411 and begin the message with “SFPD.” Tipsters can remain anonymous.