Alarm bells over drug '10 times more potent than fentanyl'

Authorities have issued a warning over a synthetic opioid considered "10 times more potent than fentanyl" after police intercepted more than 60 imports of the drug over the past two years.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) is particularly concerned about the nitazenes contained in cocaine, MDMA, GHB and counterfeit pharmaceuticals.

The drug is sold in a variety of forms including powders, tablets, nasal sprays and vape liquids.

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The drug can be marketed and sold as non-opioid substances such as cocaine, MDMA, GHB, and counterfeit pharmaceuticals.

Australian Border Force (ABF) detected 64 imports of nitazenes at the Australian border between January 2023 and September 2024, which were primarily imported via the international mail stream from Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and Canada.

"They are extremely potent and 10 times more potent than fentanyl," the Australian Federal Police said in a statement.

"They can have serious and unpredictable health effects, including loss of consciousness, shallow or stopped breathing, bluish purple skin, slow or erratic pulse or death."

The AFP's forensic team has analysed a significant portion of seized nitazenes.

Police seized four kilos of a Nitazene analogue after it was found during a search warrant at the home of a 28-year-old Malaysian citizen at Doncaster East in Melbourne.

In a separate seizure, a 39-year-old Northern Territory was charged by police for allegedly importing the potent opioid metonitazene through the mail from the United Kingdom into Australia in October 2023.

AFP Commander Paula Hudson said police considered nitazenes to pose a greater threat to the Australian community than fentanyl.

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"Nitazenes are considered 10 times more potent than fentanyl and to put that in perspective, around two milligrams of fentanyl, or the equivalent of the size of two grains of salt, is considered lethal," Hudson said.

"Taking nitazenes is like playing Russian roulette with your life – it's a serious gamble and even the smallest amount can lead to a fatal overdose. 

"When mixed with other illicit drugs, users have no idea what they are taking before it's too late.

"Synthetic opioids can be so potent there is serious concern for frontline workers like emergency hospital staff, ABF officers and AFP forensics members, who could be exposed to fatal health effects through inhalation and exposure when handling the substance.

"The AFP will continue to work alongside our partners at ABF, and international law enforcement partners, to detect, identify and dismantle any criminal networks importing these dangerous drugs and causing harm to our community."

If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Alcohol and Other Drug hotline on 1800 250 015 or call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

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