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The holiday paradise being tainted by hard drugs

Byron Bay is supposed to be a haven for holidaymakers, but its relaxed hippy vibe is fast becoming tainted by violence and hard drugs.

Seven News has been given exclusive access on the beat with officers as they confront the scourge of new drug flakka - something they consider to be worse than ice.

Even with lockout laws, at night the coastal party hot spot descends into a nightmare for police officers as they try and contain the chaos.

Joined by a 7 News crew, it didn't take long before police were called to a local venue where they arrested a man, who was later put before the court on affray charges.

Local police say the the zombie drug, flakka, has become a serious problem. Source: 7 News
Local police say the the zombie drug, flakka, has become a serious problem. Source: 7 News

Birthday girl Inga Schollbach was out in the heart of the town when she claims a man held her face before punching it.

The emergence of zombie drug, flakka, is causing major concerns for both locals and authorities.

Tweed Byron Police Detective Inspector Matt Kehoe said the drug gives users an incredible pain threshold, that is worse than ice.

A man is taken into custody following an incident at a local venue. Source: 7 News
A man is taken into custody following an incident at a local venue. Source: 7 News
Local Police continue to seize large quantities of cash and drugs on a regular basis. Source: 7 News
Local Police continue to seize large quantities of cash and drugs on a regular basis. Source: 7 News

“It is disappointing, you do see drugs being dealt openly here,” he said.

However, local police have also come under fire for their handling of two recent arrests, with video of the incident on a packed beach going viral online.

While the investigations into the arrests run their course, officers in the region are preparing themselves for yet another intense weekend on the job.