Canberra, May 7 -- The Australian Federal Police has issued a warning over a dangerous drug that authorities have found in counterfeit medications.
The AFP said on Wednesday that nitazenes have been detected in counterfeit pain medications in the east coast states of New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, as well as the Australian Capital Territory in recent months.
Nitazenes are a type of synthetic opioid that is 10 times more potent than fentanyl and are illicit in Australia.
The AFP said that the drug, which can be distributed as powders, tablets, nasal sprays and vape liquids, can cause serious and unpredictable health effects, including fatal overdose.
"We cannot understate the dangers which surround any use of this illicit ...