The AFP is warning about the dangers of an illicit drug cocktail, known as pink cocaine, which can cause serious harm or death.
Pink cocaine is an organised crime marketing gimmick and rarely contains cocaine but a mix of dangerous illicit drugs like ketamine, MDMA, methamphetamine and often contains no cocaine. Pink cocaine is also referred to as tusi, cocaine rosada, pink panther, and pig nose.
The AFP has examined 133kg of pink cocaine detected by authorities across eight seizures in Australia between March and July, 2024.
Of the total 133kg examined by the AFP, the most prominent illicit drugs found in 'pink cocaine' were ketamine, in purities ranging from 6.8 per cent to 51.3 per cent, and MDMA in purities ranging from 15.8 per cent to 33.2 per cent.
The AFP charged a Sydney man, 21, in November, 2024, over an alleged plot to import 252kg of pink cocaine seized in Europe destined for Australia.
The investigation was launched by the AFP following the detection of 252kg of pink cocaine seized in an air cargo consignment, labelled as containing an industrial saw and destined for Sydney in October, 2024.
Pink cocaine was first examined by the AFP in 2020 following a detection of 154g of the drug by police during a search warrant in Queensland.
Pink cocaine is usually sold as loose powder or pressed into blocks or tablets imprinted with symbols, similar to cocaine, and its pink colour is created with food colouring or dye.
AFP Commander Paula Hudson said the AFP was closely monitoring and targeting serious organised crime groups and their involvement in the rise of detections in Australia.
"Transnational serious organised crime groups will try to profit from exploiting our community with novel, more dangerous and often cheaper substances," Commander Hudson said.
"Pink cocaine is a deadly concoction made up with a grab-bag of offcuts from other illicit drugs like MDMA, ketamine and methamphetamine in unpredictable purities. It is then dyed with artificial food colour to produce its pink colour in an attempt to appeal to users, naïve to the serious dangers.
"People need to be aware of the dangers of using this drug, with serious health risks including loss of consciousness, stroke, heart attack and even death. It's an unpredictable illicit drug cocktail that has the very real potential to destroy Christmas for you or your loved ones."
