Gold Coast police are investigating whether tougher charges can be laid against two alleged drug suppliers following the death of Victorian country footballer Riki Stephens.
Stephens' grieving family made the heart-breaking decision to turn the 27-year-old's life support off on Friday, almost a week after he consumed a toxic cocktail of drugs during an end-of-season trip.
Police confirmed the two arrests made this week related directly to Stephens' adverse reaction to the substance and were considering whether heavier charges could be laid against the men following Mr Stephens' death.
They will also wage war on drug dealers at this weekend's Gold Coast 600 and next month's schoolies celebrations.
"We will find you, we will catch you and we will prosecute you," Superintendent Michelle Stenner said.
"If you are a drug dealer on the Gold Coast, don't do it. Don't think that you can play with people's lives the way that you have been and go unnoticed."
Stephens was one of more than 20 people who needed medical treatment last weekend after taking the drug, with most admitted to hospital after displaying dangerous and erratic behaviour while hallucinating.
Police say they ingested a substance that was a cocktail of "amphetamine-type substances", including MDMA and a synthetic version of LSD also known as an N-Bomb.
"A mixture of these substances ... can have a chemical reaction inside the body which can cause these serious side-effects," Supt Stenner said.
"It can just be a one-off thing that can take your life."
They have also since ruled out the substance being flakka, dubbed the zombie drug for its effects on users.
Regardless, Supt Stener said the carnage should act as a warning for any party-goers heading to the region.
"You have no idea who is manufacturing these substances or where they are manufacturing them," she said.
"These are substances that are made by an unknown person with an unknown motive."
Stephens and his Heathcote teammates were on the Gold Coast when he ingested the substance at a pub last weekend.
His family were by his bedside when the life support was turned off, after he spent a week in a coma in intensive care.
"This is a waste of human life and he was a promising young man that had his future ahead of him," Supt Stenner said.
Heathcote football club president Andrew Conforti paid tribute to the popular full-forward, as his teammates took to social media to honour their friend.
"We were lucky enough to have Riki for 12 months ... he got out there and was a star," Mr Conforti told AAP.
"There's a lot of people hurting - he was an easy person to love."
Dylan McCutcheon posted: "To my full-forward, to my idol, to my mate. I hope you are at peace, I hope you are still kicking goals ... I love you today, I'll love you tomorrow, I'll love you forever."
The 24-year-old and 21-year-old man charged over supplying the drugs are due to face the Southport Magistrates Court next month, while police believe other arrests are still on the horizon.
