A man and woman from Port Vincent have been charged after police allegedly seized the highly toxic drug fentanyl, the same substance reportedly found in a mislabelled bottle in Prince’s home after his death.
Fentanyl, prescribed for severe chronic pain associated with surgery or cancer, is a fast-acting, highly potent synthetic opioid reported to be “50 to 100 times stronger than morphine”, police said.
Its side effects include disorientation, respiratory problems, unconsciousness and death.
Police say there have been a number of deaths in South Australia and across the country linked to fentanyl.
“Contact with even a minute amount of fentanyl carries a significant risk of accidental opioid overdose,” SA Police said in a statement.
“Fentanyl is so toxic that it not only places drug dealers and users at serious harm but carries a significant risk to friends and family who may accidently come into contact with it. Investigating police also face the genuine risk of accidental expose and overdose.”
The couple were arrested this morning after a raid on November 18, as part of a wider investigation involving the Australian Federal Police, SA Police and the Department of Immigration and Border Protection.
Operation POST was commenced in 2014 due to the spike in psychoactive substances sold on the dark web.
The pair, both aged 31, were charged with trafficking a commercial quantity of a controlled drug and trafficking a controlled drug.
They have been refused bail and will appear at the Adelaide Magistrates’ Court today.
An autopsy found music icon Prince died on April 21 from an accidental overdose of fentanyl.
US media reported pills containing fentanyl were found inside the bottle of an over-the-counter medication inside the pop singer’s home. He is not believed to have had a prescription for the drugs.
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