Australia's First Case: Man Arrested for Supplying Nicotine-based E-Liquid, 2.1kg of Illicit Substance Seized

Key points:

·A man in Sydney, Australia, is suspected of selling e-liquid containing synthetic opioids. 

·Police seized 2.1 kilograms of synthetic opioids, which are highly addictive and potentially fatal. 

·Experts recommend carrying naloxone to prevent overdose.

【2Firsts News Flash】According to a report from ABC on August 6th, a man in Sydney, Australia has become the first person to be charged with allegedly supplying the substance "nitazene" in e-liquid, which is used in vaping products.

After conducting an investigation, the New South Wales police claimed that a 20-year-old man had cleverly operated a sophisticated illegal drug distribution scheme from March to July 2025, responsible for supplying nitrazepam-like substances in e-liquids.

On August 1st, police raided a residence, allegedly discovering e-cigarette devices, small bottles of liquid, and over 7000 Australian dollars (approximately 4542 US dollars) in cash. Additionally, police also found two imitation firearms, a stun gun, and a locked safe, which they were unable to open on site.

The police later opened the safe and found 1.8 kilograms of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), bringing the total amount seized to 2.1 kilograms. The suspect was arrested at the scene and charged with illegally selling drugs and knowingly handling proceeds from criminal activities.

Police have pointed out that the man is involved in the sale, preparation, and distribution of e-liquid. In a statement, Commander John Watson, of the Narcotics and Firearms Unit, stated that Nitrazepam substances are highly addictive and potentially lethal.

Detective Watson stated that this incident represents a "disturbing evolution" in drug trafficking, alleging that suppliers are manufacturing user dependency by adding these synthetic opioids to e-liquids, ensuring repeat purchases in the future.

According to the New South Wales Department of Health, Nitazene substances are a highly potent synthetic opioid drug that is more likely to cause respiratory failure than other opioids. Authorities have stated that the potency of these drugs may be hundreds of times that of heroin.

Addiction expert Dr. Hester Wilson has warned about the dangers of synthetic opioids, stating that symptoms of overdose include pinpoint pupils, drowsiness, loss of consciousness, slow or shallow breathing, and blue or gray skin. She also advised anyone using recreational drugs to carry naloxone, a life-saving measure that can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.

According to publicly available information, nitazene substances are a type of potent synthetic opioid drugs that have been identified as new psychoactive substances (NPS) in multiple countries in recent years. They possess extremely powerful pain-relieving abilities and carry a high risk of lethality.