Warning about deadly vapes laced with powerful new opioid, many times stronger than fentanyl

Police fear “dozens, if not hundreds” of people may have unknowingly consumed a new class of synthetic opioid through illicit vape liquid, exposing them to the highly addictive and potentially lethal drug which can be 28 times more potent than fentanyl.

NSW Police have charged a Sydney man with drug supply and proceeds of crime offences after he allegedly supplied vape liquid laced with nitazenes, a class of synthetic opioid often manufactured in China and cut into other substances.

Detective Superintendent John Watson, commander of the drug and firearms squad, said investigations had allegedly uncovered a “contactless … faceless” distribution model under which vape vials marketed as “supercharged” were allegedly sold through social media.

Detectives under Strike Force Southminster, established to investigate the supply of nitazenes across Sydney, searched a home in south-west Sydney about 12.10pm on August 1, police said in an earlier statement.

Police allegedly seized vials containing nitazenes, electronics and vape hardware.

On Monday, police say they also found a further 1.8 kilograms of nitazenes, bringing the total amount allegedly seized during their operations to 2.1 kilograms.

The accused was arrested at Liverpool Police Station, where he was charged with supplying a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug and knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime.

“This is the first time in Australia that we’ve seen an [alleged] operation like this,” Watson told reporters on Wednesday, adding any buyers “potentially would not have even realised that they’re taking nitazenes”.

“People have been using it for months and potentially have become addicted to a synthetic opioid.”

Health experts and law enforcement have repeatedly warned about the infiltration of nitazenes into Australia’s drug supply, saying they pose a greater threat than the synthetic opioid fentanyl, which has led to more than 100,000 deaths in the US but does not yet have a strong presence in Australia.

Intelligence collected by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) suggests nitazenes are being produced by pharmaceutical companies in China, where their production is banned, before being shipped directly to Australia or via intermediary countries, including the US and the UK.

The number of Australian deaths from overdoses of the class of opioid, which have been reported in South Australia, Queensland and NSW, is unknown. More than 20 people have died from overdoses of nitazenes in Victoria since 2021.

One man, Jetson Gordon, died aged 18 a month after moving to Melbourne from Mullumbimby, NSW, after taking a fake oxycodone pill which contained a type of nitazene.

Earlier this year, NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant asked the Minns government to consider pill-testing as a way to respond to the danger posed by nitazenes.

NSW’s first cases of dependence were reported at Fairfield Hospital in July last year, where withdrawals were observed in four young adult patients who developed an addiction after inhaling illicit vape liquid that contained the nitazene protonitazene.

Watson said the use of highly addictive, incredibly potent and potentially lethal nitazenes in vape liquid was a “disturbing evolution in the illicit drug trade”.

“When you buy illicit vapes, you have no idea what’s inside. You could be inhaling dangerous chemicals, heavy metals, or in this case, a synthetic opioid stronger than fentanyl.”

NSW Health’s chief addiction specialist Dr Hester Wilson said users of any recreational drugs should carry the medication naloxone, which can rapidly reverse the effects of opioid overdose.

“Opioid overdose symptoms can include pinpoint pupils, drowsiness, loss of consciousness, slow breathing or snoring, or skin turning blue or grey,” she said.

“If you witness someone experiencing any of these symptoms after using drugs, give naloxone if you have it, and call triple zero immediately.”

Members of the public concerned about a vape product they have used or purchased are advised to stop using it immediately and seek medical advice, and report suspicious products to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

The accused appeared in court on August 2, where he was refused bail.

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