The AFP is warning the community that no illicit drug use is safe and is particularly concerned about the nitazenes contained in cocaine, MDMA, GHB, and counterfeit pharmaceuticals.
Nitazenes are synthetic opioids and are sold in a variety of forms, including powders, tablets, nasal sprays, and vape liquids, and can be marketed and sold as non-opioid substances like cocaine, MDMA, GHB, and counterfeit pharmaceuticals.
They are extremely potent and 10 times more potent than fentanyl. 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.
Between January 2023 and September 2024, Australian Border Force detected 64 imports of nitazenes at the Australian border. The imports originated from Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and Canada, and primarily were imported via the international mail stream.
AFP Forensics has analysed a significant portion of seized nitazenes. There is no evidence to indicating nitazenes are being manufactured in Australia.
In June 2024, police seized 4kg of a Nitazene analogue after it was located during a search warrant at the home of a 28-year-old Malaysian citizen in Doncaster East.
In a separate matter, a Northern Territory man, 39, 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 the AFP considered nitazenes to pose a greater threat to the Australian community than fentanyl, and was working closely with partners to monitor the threat.
"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," Commander 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."
ABF Acting Commander Troy Sokoloff praised the hard work of his officers, noting that efforts to detect and seize nitazenes would continue into 2025.
"The increased presence of nitazenes at the border is a matter of deep concern to the ABF, and the threat they pose to the Australian community is immense," Acting Commander Sokoloff said.
"As we move into a new year, the ABF remains committed to protecting the Australian community by intercepting these highly dangerous substances at the border. Indeed, our highly trained and dedicated officers are working tirelessly to prevent nitazenes from entering the country and ending up in the wrong hands.
"Nitazenes are causing significant community harm and deaths globally and our collaboration with law enforcement partners both here and internationally is integral to address this scourge. We work closely with our international counterparts to identify and disrupt smuggling networks targeting the Australian community."
