Drug-related arrests & 2 deaths cast shadow on EDC Thailand debut

The first-ever Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) in Thailand on January 17-19, 2025, at Phuket's Boat Avenue Lakefront, was marked by two deaths and several drug-related arrests.

Featuring over 90 international and local acts on the line-up including Skrillex, Fisher, Afrojack, and AMP KILLA, the event attracted thousands of attendees.

On Saturday, January 18, a 32-year-old Vietnamese-American and a 28-year-old Canadian collapsed in separate incidents during the event.

Both were taken to Thalang Hospital but did not survive. Initial tests were inconclusive, with further examinations underway.

Local authorities have raised concerns about drug use, stating, “We received a report from the department, where all who died had drugs in their blood.”

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Following these events, Cherng Talay Police increased security checks at the festival, resulting in the arrests of three foreign nationals on January 19.

A 52-year-old Japanese man was found with cocaine, a 33-year-old Myanmar citizen was charged with methamphetamine use, and a 29-year-old Malaysian man was caught with ecstasy, cocaine, and methamphetamine.

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It was also reported that four people were suspected of distributing cannabis illegally on the festival grounds.

This has sparked concerns about drug safety protocols at major music festivals in Thailand, leading authorities to announce a review of security measures for future events.

In a related incident, four people died after attending the Pinkfish Countdown event in Malaysia on December 31, 2024, leading to the temporary suspension of permits for upcoming events in the country.

Via: Khaosod English & Nation Thailand