poledriver
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Jul 21, 2005
- Messages
- 11,543
Meet the dad who posed as a crime boss to find his late son's illegal drug suppliers
An Australian father whose only son died while under the influence of a synthetic recreational drug has infiltrated the Chinese criminal gangs exporting the substances to our shores.
Rod Bridge’s son Preston died in February 2013, after leaping from a Perth balcony while on the synthetic drug, 25i-NBOMe.
It is believed the 16-year-old was under the impression he could fly before he plunged to his death.
The hallucinogenic drug, up to 60 times more potent than LSD, had been sourced from the infamous black market site, Silk Road
Mr Bridge embarked on a remarkable personal mission to China to meet the suppliers smuggling the substances into Australia.
He told 60 Minutes about his plans, and secretly filmed and recorded his interactions with dealers while posing as an Aussie crime boss.
Throughout his meetings, he was offered the chance to import at least five different synthetic chemicals into Australia, with one deal including more than 200kg.
Reporter Liz Hayes travelled with Mr Bridge to China.
"For Rod, coming to face to face with the suppliers of the drug that ended his son’s life is quite awful," Hayes told 9news.com.au.
"He had to maintain his cover as crime boss.
"He has his son’s name, birth and death dates tattooed on his arm. He’s constantly reminded of him.
"To maintain his composure his remarkable."
Mr Bridge’s journey began with no publicity in mind, but to find some answers on the drugs which claimed his only son’s life.
The synthetic substances were once legal in Australia, and remain legal in China.
They often reach Australia as bath salts or similar products, and are marked as not for human consumption, but the investigation reveals the suppliers are all too aware of their intended use as recreational drugs.
"They know what they’re doing - they know what you’re doing," Hayes said.
Read more at http://www.9news.com.au/national/20...ed-taking-an-illegal-drug#i6O33JCliMm1TFse.99
An Australian father whose only son died while under the influence of a synthetic recreational drug has infiltrated the Chinese criminal gangs exporting the substances to our shores.
Rod Bridge’s son Preston died in February 2013, after leaping from a Perth balcony while on the synthetic drug, 25i-NBOMe.
It is believed the 16-year-old was under the impression he could fly before he plunged to his death.
The hallucinogenic drug, up to 60 times more potent than LSD, had been sourced from the infamous black market site, Silk Road
Mr Bridge embarked on a remarkable personal mission to China to meet the suppliers smuggling the substances into Australia.
He told 60 Minutes about his plans, and secretly filmed and recorded his interactions with dealers while posing as an Aussie crime boss.
Throughout his meetings, he was offered the chance to import at least five different synthetic chemicals into Australia, with one deal including more than 200kg.
Reporter Liz Hayes travelled with Mr Bridge to China.
"For Rod, coming to face to face with the suppliers of the drug that ended his son’s life is quite awful," Hayes told 9news.com.au.
"He had to maintain his cover as crime boss.
"He has his son’s name, birth and death dates tattooed on his arm. He’s constantly reminded of him.
"To maintain his composure his remarkable."
Mr Bridge’s journey began with no publicity in mind, but to find some answers on the drugs which claimed his only son’s life.
The synthetic substances were once legal in Australia, and remain legal in China.
They often reach Australia as bath salts or similar products, and are marked as not for human consumption, but the investigation reveals the suppliers are all too aware of their intended use as recreational drugs.
"They know what they’re doing - they know what you’re doing," Hayes said.
Read more at http://www.9news.com.au/national/20...ed-taking-an-illegal-drug#i6O33JCliMm1TFse.99
