How to Sneak Drugs Into a Festival (What We Tried, What Worked, What Didn't)
How to Sneak Drugs Into a Festival
(Not that we would ever recommend doing anything illegal)
The obligatory disclaimer: For the record, Festival Drip is not implicit in any illegal activities or responsible for the idiots who read this and do something stupid. We are not responsible for any loss or damage or jail time any person experiences after reading this article. Please, just like, use your best judgment, always. Thanks.
How to Handle Festival Security Like a Pro (Without Getting Busted)
Getting drugs into a music festival can be harder than sneaking them into prison. Unlike airports—where the focus is on bombs, stacks of cash, and large quantities of substances—festival security zeroes in on personal stashes. They're not trying to bust kingpins; they’re trying to stop the average partygoer from sneaking in a little something-something. And since they can’t thoroughly search tens of thousands of people, they rely on profiling—and, yep, sniffer dogs—to decide who gets extra attention.
So what can security actually do to you? Can they pat you down? Strip search you? (Spoiler: They can’t—unless the police get involved.) To get the real scoop, we talked to festival security guards about how it all works and how to avoid unnecessary drama at the gate.
Scroll to the bottom of this page to see the specific tricks we tried that worked and which ones got us busted.
1. Don’t Make Yourself a Target
When entering a big festival, you’ll usually hit a few checkpoints: ticket and ID check, an initial bag search for obvious contraband (glass, weapons, fireworks), and then—possibly—a walk past a sniffer dog.
If you want to breeze through, don’t act sketchy. Save the jaw grinding and wild eyes for inside the gates.
“People get cocky,” one gate steward told The Face. “I saw someone roll up to security smoking a joint. Not sure if he made it in—but seriously, what was he thinking?”
2. Keep Your Crew Small and Chill
Rolling in with a giant, rowdy group? Bad idea.
Time and time again, I must learn this lesson the hard way.
“If you're in a loud, noticeable group, you’re more likely to be pulled aside,” says “Terry,” a security guard at multiple large festivals. “Instead, go in two or three at a time. Stay under the radar.”
Basically, don’t give them a reason to single you out.
3. Don’t Carry Someone Else’s Stash
It might seem smart to consolidate and have one person bring it all in, but that can backfire—hard. If you’re carrying multiple people’s drugs, that could legally put you in “dealer” territory.
Just ask Shaun Saunders, who in 2019 tried to sneak in party favors for his entire crew. Busted at the gate with a stash hidden in a Pringles can, he wound up with a suspended sentence, 250 hours of community service, and a four-month curfew.
Don't be that guy. Everyone handles their own.
4. Know the Deal with Sniffer Dogs
After the first bag check, there’s often a “last chance” amnesty bin—drop any drugs in there and walk away, no questions asked. After that, you may walk past a sniffer dog.
But here’s the truth: sniffer dogs suck at their job.
One study of nearly 10,000 searches found dogs were wrong 75% of the time. Another, done at Latitude Festival, found they were wrong 88% of the time.
Still, if a dog "alerts" on you, you’ll likely be pulled aside. Expect a script like:
“If you hand over anything now, we’ll let you in. But if we find something, you’re not getting in.”
This bluff is designed to rattle you. If you know you’re clean—or just don’t want to consent—you can refuse the search. But here’s the catch: refusing means you can’t get in, because agreeing to be searched is part of the entry conditions.
The situation only escalates if security thinks you’re hiding a lot. That’s when the police may be brought in—and then things get serious. Under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, the cops can legally detain and strip search you. It’s rare, but it happens, especially at festivals with on-site police units.
5. What Actually Happens in a Search Tent
If you get flagged, you might be taken to a tent for a secondary search.
“In the tent, two security guards will ask you to remove outer layers like jackets or hoodies,” says “John,” another security insider. “They’ll search your bags and do a body pat-down. If nothing turns up, they might bring in another dog. If the dog fixates on your personal area [genitals], you’ll be asked again if you’re hiding anything. If you refuse, police may be called to do a full body search.”
Translation: the more confident and cooperative you are, the quicker this ends—especially if they find nothing.
6. Once You're In, Stay Smart
Just because you’ve made it past the gates doesn’t mean it’s a free-for-all. Drugs are still illegal inside the festival. Sure, it might feel like every other person is chewing their face off—but waving around a bag of powder is still a dumb move.
Security focuses on the big fish: the dealers. If they spend all day chasing zoots and pills from individual users, they’ll miss the people selling hundreds.
“On day one, we’re told to be tough,” says John. “We bring people to the eviction tent and either kick them out or give them warnings. By day two, there are so many caught that we’re told to use our heads. If they look like users, not dealers, we confiscate the drugs and move on.”
That said, don’t push your luck. Keep any drug use low-key. Avoid doing anything in open areas, especially paths between stages where security often roams. Campsites and packed dance floors? Safer bets.
7. Pass the Vibe Check
Security guards aren’t out to ruin your life. Most of them are just trying to keep people safe and get through their shift.
Being cool, polite, and respectful can make a huge difference—especially if you get pulled for a secondary search.
“Have your bags ready and say hello,” says Terry. “It sets a good tone. If you start with ‘Fucking security, I’ve got nothing on me,’ you’ve already lost the room.”
Show some chill, act like someone they’d want in the crowd, and odds are they’ll move along.
How to Sneak Drugs Into a Festival - What We Tried, What Worked, What Didn't
The first thing to understand when reading about what specifically worked for me and my friends is that security is always different at every festival. And not just at every festival, sometimes two different gates at the same festival can have completely different security.
With that in mind, here are a few of Wit's personal go-to stealth operation moves for getting the goods into festivals.
1. The Gooch. Guys, this one is a time-tested winner. We all know that. Ladies, I'll save you the embarrassment of asking your boyfriend what "The Gooch" means. This is when you basically tape your stash of pills or bud or whatever to your nut sack. It's not pretty, it's not something we enjoy, and it actually really fucking hurts when you pull that tape off, but this move has never failed me. In fact, it's so effective that security at some festivals will straight up pat you down in that area. Obviously, it's a dicey move for security, because if they do suspect you've got drugs tapped to your balls there are a million things you can say to refute the fact that they just fondled you in public while on the job and the positively insane acusation that you - an upstanding young dance music enthusiast - would tape a plastic bag full of narcotics to your testicles. I mean, why does that?
2. Patch Pocket. I've been having a lot of fun with this one lately. This is where you take any iron-on patch and use something like an index card to prevent the top and middle section from adhering to whatever you're ironing it onto (backpacks or jackets work really well.) After it cools down, 3 of the 4 sides will be attached to the material (backpack.hoodie), leaving the top and middle sections of the patch open, creating a pocket. It's not a huge amount of space, but perfect for, say, and 8-ball. Remember to safety-pin the top part of the patch pocket closed when it's in stash mode. If anyone asks you about it, just say "Fashion" and walk off. This is gold.
Make your own stash pocket out of a patch: There is actually a detailed guide for how you can turn any iron-on patch into a secret stash pocket here.
3. Totem Buddy. This one took me a long time to figure out because I kept getting the wrong totem material. Normally, you want to construct a totem using the most sturdy materials you can get your mitts on. Unless you plan on using it as a stash spot.
For this to work, you need to get a hollow PVC pipe (they're all hollow). Don't get one that's too long or they might not let it into the festival. An arm's length of piping is perfect. The actual totem doesn't really matter, since it's just a decoy. Just make it sturdy so it doesn't fall apart before you get inside.
The beauty of using a totem to sneak drugs into a festival is that there is a TON of room inside a standard PVC pipe. Even a foot long PVC pipe, which is pathetically small by totem standards, can hold more weed than even Snoop Dogg could smoke all day at a festival. Also, to this day, the stash totem is the best way to sneak alcohol into a festival. (But maybe wash it out first?)
What Doesn't Work: The Time I Got Busted
What you should definitely NOT do if you're trying to sneak drugs into a festival is
1. When you get "That One Asshole" security guard. I was using a can or Arizona Iced Tea as a decoy while waiting in line at Starbase festival when it was really full of just vodka. (hehe, I'm so sneaky!) The line was moving waaay faster than I thought it would and I didn't have time to finish it. But, you know, didn't want to waste it.
I walked past the first security checkpoint with the vodka in my hand... and the guy didn't say shit to me.
Got to the second security checkpoint and the dude there started LOSING HIS SHIT when he saw that I made it through the first checkpoint with the open container of iced tea.
I set it on the plastic folding table so I can take the keys and phone out of my pocket....
He picks up the can of iced tea...
And then he SNIFFS it. And when he looks me in the eye next, I can see the seething hatred on his face. Like I was personally responsible for his divorce or something.
First, he sets the can back down on the table. Then he backhands it off the table dramatically. Next, he stops on it with his steel toed boots, all while never once breaking eye contact with me.
"No festival for you today," he tells me, then turns to the other security guard, who, by the look on his face, already knew what an insane asshole this guy was. "This guys not allowed in. Nobody let him in. He tried to bring in... ALCOHOL!" - He screamed it like it was a curse word.
This one asshole security guard was red in the face, trying his hardest to prevent me from getting into the music festival... and that was AFTER he spilled my drink! That was good vodka!
Look, I've done some pretty crazy shit at music festivals, but I've never been thrown out of a fest or even prevented from enetering... So, I just walked around to a different entrance on the other side of the venue where there was, like, no line at all.
The moral of the story: Don't piss off the wrong guy.
2. A Rookie Mistake.
The last one is embarrassing and something no one should do.
If you've ever been to EDC Las Vegas, you already know what a complete and utter clusterfuck the gates are. Well, I have ADD and get bored easily, so I pop half a pill while waiting in line. This is on Day 1, so it hits me HARD. Suddenly, I'm best friends with everyone in line. As we get closer to security, one of my new friends behind me starts to freak out. It's his first time sneaking drugs into a festival, and security at EDC can look intimidating, so he is wigging out.
Meanwhile, I'm dancing my heart out in line. Not casual dancing, either. Like, the "Well, this guy is obviously on drugs." type of dancing.
There were less than 10 people in front of me when the kid behind goes, "Hey, man, can you do me a solid and get my pills past security? I'll give you two of them."
At the time, that seemed like the deal of a lifetime. He handed me a bag and I threw it in my sock without even looking to see what was inside.
30 seconds later, security found them.
PRO-TIP: When a security guard holds up a bag of drugs they found on you and asks, "What's this?", they DO NOT like it when you reply, "The fuck do I know? Looks like drugs to me."
So I got caught with drugs at the gates of EDC. On Day 1. By yet ANOTHER asshole security guard. (Not that he's an asshole because he caught me. I was an idiot. He was an asshole because, during my extensive post-busted conversation with him, he was acting like a complete asshole.)
What to Do If You Get Busted By Security At a Festival
Now, this wasn't the first time I got busted by security going into a music festival. But every other time I was easily able to talk my way out of those situations by denying all accusations and asserting my rights.
This, however, was the first time I had ever gotten caught by a security guard who physically had the drugs he found on me in his hand. I'm no expert on law, but I believe that's what the suits refer to as "evidence". Yes, I could have gone to Clark Jail that day and fucked up not only my big and very expensive EDC weekend, but probably my life, too.
But none of that happened. Because this is EDC. Day 1. And I wasn't about to let anything come between me and the motherfucking BASSPOD dancefloor. So this is how I got out of it.
- Remain calm & casual. Don't freak out. Don't raise your voice. Don't make a scene.
- Don't tell on someone else. It won't win you any favors with the cops, and it won't win you any street cred either. Also, there is a record of shit like that, and if you ever end up doing real time, like, in butt-fucking-ass-prison, other inmates will definitely find out about it and you will definitely get stabbed as a result. Take responsibility.
- Focus on Solutions. In my case, I realized quickly that the conversation with the guard who busted me was going nowhere, so I asked to talk to his supervisor.
-
Consider Your Options. Security gaurds aren't cops, which is why, if you do get busted going into a festival, it's very important to resolve the matter with the security gaurds BEFORE the cops get involved.
The security supervisor, who happened to be standing closeby anyway, ended up being a very chill guy. Someone I could talk to and get on his level. He fully understood the fact that it was a music festival and many of the people going through security were bringing in drugs.
This was a "If I don't see it, it ain't my problem" type of guy. You need to find that security guard.
In less than 30 seconds after I started talking to the security supervisor, he plucked the bag of pills out of the hands of the guy who busted me and threw them right into the trash.
Then he looked at me and said, "You do this shit tomorrow, we gonna have problems."
I said, "Aight, Bet." and walked into EDC.
The funniest part about that story is that I never saw the nervous kid who wanted me to bring his drugs in again.
Allison Eden has a pretty funny story here about the time she got caught doing bumps of K on the lawn at Electric Zoo and banged a security guard to get out of it.
Final Thoughts
Music festivals are meant to be magical, unforgettable weekends. If you’re planning to bring substances, do it smartly. Be discreet. Know your rights. Don’t carry anyone else’s gear. And above all, treat security like human beings—because if you act like a headache, they’ll treat you like one.
See you on the dancefloor. ✌️
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