Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle pills containing twice the normal dose of MDMA were circulating at this year's Secret Garden Party, it has been claimed.
An independent and "non-judgemental" drug testing charity called The Loop said it found the pills during testing at the event, an alternative music festival in Abbots Ripton near Huntingdon, that was revived this year following a five-year hiatus.
And it also found fake pills that contained plaster of Paris and N-ethylpentylone being sold as MDMA, which is the psychoactive ingredient used in ecstasy.
The charity warned that similar substances imitating other drugs "will be in circulation" at other UK festivals this summer". The Loop's senior scientist, Guy Jones, told the BBC: "It presents an unusual risk, above and beyond the [usual] risks." The Loop came across the Ninja Turtle-shaped tablets on sale at the event in Cambridgeshire contained 2.5 times the typical amount of ecstasy.
Teddy Bear pills also allegedly in circulation at the event had up to 1.5 times the normal dose, and testers also found pills made in the shape of the Soundcloud music sharing platform's logo which contained plaster of Paris but were being sold as MDMA to festival-goers.
They also found a powder marketed as MDMA was actually N-ethylpentylone, a drug similar to MDMA that can cause insomnia and psychosis for up to 42 hours, said Mr Jones. He told Radio 1 Newsbeat listeners that it's a "really insidious" product. He added: "If people have bought MDMA and they are expecting it, they are likely to be equipped and understand the risks they are exposed to and how to mitigate those risks.
"Things like staying cool, keeping well-hydrated and moderating their dose — when there are unexpected risks added, that throws off people's ability to mitigate those risks."
He said most people at these events did "not want to take these nasty substances" but if people did feel unwell at a festival having taken a substance, he advised seeking medical help, with medics onsite to help. "They're not there to judge people. They are there to help people, and not get them in trouble," he said.
According to research by The Loop, "people who buy in the festival are more likely to buy dangerous substances with unexpected risks". Mr Jones said organisers should ensure there were sufficient water points so people could keep hydrated.
"Having a testing service available on site helps people dodge those dodgy substances," he added.
The festival itself featured two Mercury award nominated artists, , plus acts including Elder Island, Metronomy, David 'Ram Jam' Rodigan, SG Lewis, Dry Cleaning, Alice Phoebe Lou, Easy Life and London Grammar.
Organisers of the event apologised to festival-goers following criticism about "unhygienic" facilities at the site. They told the CambridgeshireLive website: "Overall, most people seemed to have the time of their lives. After long separations because of the pandemic, the whole weekend was about coming together again. Seeing all the people really enjoying themselves, engaging, being friendly to others and getting involved was incredible and that was very uplifting for everyone - crew, volunteers, artists and ‘gardeners’ alike. The theme of ‘All You Need Is Love’ resonated across the board.”
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