A drug so toxic someone can die by simply touching it has been detected in Queensland, sparking an urgent warning from authorities.
The drug, Carfentanyl, was intercepted by border force officers at a Brisbane mail centre and is about 10,000 times as potent as morphine.
The substance is commonly used as a tranquilliser for large animals, including elephants, and the most minute of doses for humans is lethal.
Even people who get the drug on their skin or in their eyes are at great risk of death.
"I am advised that Carfentanyl is a highly toxic and potent synthetic based drug, with a 0.002mg dose enough to kill a person," Police Minister Mark Ryan said.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
Detective Superintendent Jon Wacker didn't mince his words when he warned of the risks of taking the drug, which is based on fentanyl.
"These are dangerous drugs and it's not a matter of if it will kill you. This drug will kill you," he said.
It's unclear how the drug made it to Queensland, with police and border force officers trying to work together to identify its origin.
It's only the second time authorities have intercepted Carfentanyl in Australia, with a previous detection in Sydney in December last year.
"It is unclear how it would be marketed here, whether sold in its pure form or mixed with other drugs and sold as the latest hook," Det Supt Wacker said.
