A man in Adelaide’s outer suburbs has been charged with trafficking in a large commercial quantity after police seized thousands of fake pills and heroin slushie.
According to South Australia Police, a Craigburn Farm man was arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into drug trafficking in the city’s southern suburbs.
A police search of the man’s Craigburn Farm home on Friday uncovered approximately 3000 fake Xanax tablets, a possible combination of both fake and legitimate prescription medication, a trafficable quantity of cannabis, about one litre of liquid heroin – also known as heroin slushie, about $10,800 in cash and drug trafficking paraphernalia.
Heroin slushie reportedly hit the Adelaide streets around 2019.
The drug has been blamed for deaths in the US and is created by mixing a common prescription medication with soft drink and a particular candy.
The 21-year-old was arrested and later charged with offences, including trafficking in a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug.
Police said the items seized would undergo further forensic analysis, and additional charges were not ruled out.
A police statement warned of the dangers of taking prescription medication not prescribed by a doctor.
“(There are) inherent dangers in consuming any fake or counterfeit medicines,” the statement said.
“They may contain toxic or dangerous substances and are manufactured without any standards or quality control, often in unsanitary conditions in backyard laboratories.
“People involved in drug trafficking have no care for those that they harm through illicit drugs.”
He was bailed to appear in the Christies Beach Magistrates Court on February 2.
Anyone with information can report anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.