Almost 30 people were found to be carrying illicit drugs on their way to a Boy George music festival, with the majority aged over 40 and a number of fans in their 50s.

Police charged 28 people – including a 60-year-old woman – found to be in possession of cocaine and/or ecstasy at Sydney’s Ivy club on Saturday.

According to police, all were on their way to a music festival held at the club where the star act Boy George started at 1pm.

“On the afternoon of Saturday, June 29, officers from the Sydney City Proactive Crime Team, assisted by the Dog Unit, conducted an operation in and around a licensed premises on George Street, Sydney, during a music event,” police said on Monday.

“Officers subsequently charged 13 men and 15 women — aged between 23 and 60 — with a total of 31 offences.

“All those charged were issued with court attendance notices and ordered to appear at the Downing Centre later this month.”

NSW Greens MP Cate Faehrmann, who attended the concert, said the drug operation was “over-the-top”.

Faehrmann wrote on her Facebook page: “It was a daytime party, starting at 1PM and finishing at 9PM. The police presence was completely over-the-top with sniffer dogs and dozens of cops forming a line that all patrons had to walk through.”