Police discover stash of buried drugs on the grounds of Creamfields Festival

August 29, 2026

Police have uncovered hundreds of nitrous oxide canisters and other substances during pre-event searches at Creamfields Festival.

Police uncovered a large quantity of illegal substances hidden beneath the Creamfields festival grounds just ahead of the upcoming event in Daresbury, England.

The discovery was made during the first week of pre-event searches, which are a routine part of police operations ahead of Creamfields. Specialist teams search the festival grounds for drugs and other prohibited items before approximately 80,000 attendees are expected to arrive over the August Bank Holiday weekend.

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According to Cheshire Police, attempts to hide drugs around the festival site are not unusual. Authorities say individuals have previously buried substances on the grounds months in advance, presumably with plans to retrieve them once inside the festival. Because of this recurring issue, searches of the site have become a standard part of preparations each year.

While some festivalgoers speculated online that the recently uncovered stash may have been discovered following a tip-off, Cheshire Police has not indicated that was the case. Instead, the drugs were reportedly found as part of the planned pre-event search operation.

The discovery was one of the largest made during the searches so far, with authorities recovering approximately 204 nitrous oxide canisters alongside large bags containing ecstasy, MDMA and ketamine tablets. Police have not publicly identified who buried the stash, and inquiries into those responsible remain ongoing.

Police added some humor by inviting whoever buried the stash to come forward, stating, “Anyone who has buried a rucksack or hold-all bag at the site and would like it back is asked to get in contact with us.”

The searches are intended to protect festivalgoers and prevent prohibited substances from entering the event. Creamfields maintains a zero-tolerance approach to drugs, with police and security conducting extensive operations both before the festival begins and as attendees enter the grounds.