Evidence of cocaine use found at Royal Highland Show

Royal Highland Show, at Ingliston (Andrew Cawley / DC Thomson)

EVIDENCE of cocaine use has been found at the Royal Highland Show.

A Sunday Post probe at Scotland’s biggest agricultural event found probable traces of the drug in a number of toilets.

We tested 20 cubicles at five locations across the 100-acre site and found evidence of narcotics in three of them.

One of the positive tests was detected in an exclusive members’ area.

It boasts its own private bar, a silver service restaurant and a balcony overlooking the main ring.

Two other portable loos showed signs of the drug.

Worryingly, one was just yards from a play bus used by children during the show, which ends today. The other was near gate 14.

Our tests were all carried out on Friday evening, as revellers partied in the bars.

An undercover reporter went to the men’s toilets and tested for traces of the drug.

We used cocaine swabs from a reputable company.

Crackdown Drug Testing supplies police forces all over the UK, including Police Scotland, with the same drug testing materials used by us.

The simple check works like a pregnancy test, with fabric swabs changing colour to indicate a positive result.

The test is based on a reaction between the chemical cobalt thiocyanate and cocaine.

If the drug is present, a bright blue colour is seen.

Our tests showed the tell-tale blue colour on three of the swabs.

Ex-policeman Dave Rigg, who runs Crackdown Drug Testing Limited, said the blue presence was a clear sign of cocaine use.

“If it turns blue immediately it indicates the presence of cocaine. If it is a positive test it is not possible to date how long ago cocaine was present.

“However, if the toilets have been cleaned I would not expect to see any positive results.”

The other 17 sites we visited did not show any change in colour, indicating there was no cocaine present.

The Royal Highland Show is Scotland’s annual farming and countryside showcase.

It is held at Ingliston on the outskirts of Edinburgh, attracting around 200,000 people.

An unnamed show-goer said: “It can get quite lairy in the bars at night.”

Cocaine use in Scotland is higher than anywhere else in the world, a United Nations report found in 2014.

Last night a spokeswoman for the show said: “There has never been any evidence of illegal substance taking at the show, which is rare for an event that attracts in excess of 190,000 people.”