An urgent warning has been issued to young Aussies ahead of schoolchildren after an increase in detections of a powerful drug entering Australia.
The synthetic opioid known as metonitazene is more potent than fentanyl and hundreds of times more powerful than morphine.
The Australian Border Force noticed an increase in the drug, with yellow and green pills hidden in packages arriving via international mail.
The urgent warning comes as thousands of high school students across Australia prepare to celebrate the end of their senior year.
The first wave of schoolboys starts on November 18 and will last for several weeks, with the wild festivities ending in mid-December.
The synthetic opioid known as metonitazene is more powerful than fentanyl and hundreds of times more powerful than morphine
Officers have stopped 24 imports of the drug – 22 of which came in the last month and just two in the nine months leading up to October.
ABF acting commander Ian Kelly said the increase in detections of metonitazene was worrying as he worries the drug is being imported to be sold at schools.
“This is concerning as school parties are about to begin in states across the country if the intention was to import this drug in an attempt to sell it to young people,” Commander Kelly said.
Commander Kelly explained that metonitazene was often disguised as other medications, which is problematic for the user because they don’t necessarily know what they are ingesting.
He added that the pills were shipped in small quantities and hidden in a number of items including bandages, medical adhesives and children’s toys.
It comes after Australian Federal Police (AFP) arrested a Northern Territory man for allegedly importing metonitazene by post from the United Kingdom.
The 39-year-old man was brought before Darwin Local Court on October 30, charged with importing a border-controlled drug.
ABF Acting Commander Ian Kelly said the increase in detections of metonitazene was worrying as he is concerned the drug is being imported to be sold at schools (stock image)
The AFP launched an investigation into the contents of the package after receiving a referral from the Commonwealth Agencies Operation Center.
Australian Border Police officers in New South Wales investigated an international mail shipment and reportedly found five grams of the illegal drug hidden in a vacuum-sealed package.
Police searched the man’s home in Gray, a suburb 23km south-east of Darwin’s CBD, and seized a number of opioids, illegal substances and electronic devices.
The man faces a maximum prison sentence of ten years.