About $5.6m worth of fantasy drug seized, second man arrested in massive police operation
A second man has been arrested after SA detectives seized hundreds of thousands of doses of the deadly party drug fantasy – worth $5.6m – in a huge operation with NSW and federal police.
Police & Courts
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A second man has been arrested over the largest fantasy bust in SA’s history.
Detectives raided a Largs Bay address on Saturday weekend, seizing $5.6m worth of 1,4-Butanediol – known as the drug fantasy – that had arrived from Sydney.
A 54-year-old Fulham Gardens man was arrested and charged with attempt trafficking in a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug.
Following further investigations, detectives arrested a Torresnville man, 28, and charged him with attempted trafficking in a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug.
SA Police was notified by the Australian Border Force and the Department of Home Affairs after 800 litres of fantasy arrived in Sydney from overseas, destined for South Australia.
In a joint operation, the fantasy, equating 800,000 doses and with a street value of $5.6 million, was intercepted.
As part of the investigation, SAPOL searched four addresses in the western suburbs, seizing $90,000 cash and prohibited weapons including Tasers, batons and daggers.
Further arrests are anticipated.
Detective Chief Inspector Denise Gray of the Serious and Organised Crime Branch said it was the largest seizure fantasy in SA.
“While it’s not illegal to import 1,4-Butanediol into the country, it is illegal to import into the state,” she said.
“We are working to make 1,4-Butanediol a controlled drug.”
1,4-Butanediol is often found in the making of Lycra and paint thinners.
“Tragically, the use of fantasy has been connected with deaths both here and interstate,” she said.
Det Supt Gray said police has been working around the clock for 10 days in the lead-up to the arrests. She said the fantasy market in SA was expanding.
“We are anticipating one or two arrests, but usually these importations have organised crime sitting behind them,” she said.
“We know one or two are known to each other.
“I would ask anyone who has information about this shipment or anyone involved in the importation of illicit drugs to report it to police via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online – information can be provided anonymously.”
The Fulham Gardens man was bailed to appear in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court in later December.
The Torrensville man was refused bail to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Friday.
It comes after three people were charged over a huge drug and money-laundering operation – in which police said they had made SA’s largest cryptocurrency seizure on record – last week.
Also last week, seven people were charged over a separate massive drug ring bust in Adelaide’s south.
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