Anita Faasavalu: Police say pharmacists targeted by pregnant woman’s drug scam

A heavily pregnant woman has appeared in court charged with a drug hunt in which she allegedly used fake prescriptions to try and obtain a cocktail of restricted medicines, including fentanyl and oxycodone.

Pharmacists across Sydney and the South Coast have been targeted by a pregnant Nowra woman’s drug hunt after she allegedly used fake prescriptions to try and obtain dangerous medicinal drugs, including oxycodone and fentanyl, a court has been told.

Anita Faasavalu, who is five-months pregnant, remains in custody after she was apprehended by Nowra police on June 2 following alleged attempts by herself and another woman to scam at least five different pharmacists in the Nowra and Northwestern Sydney areas.

According to police documents, the 25-year-old’s alleged crime spree began on May 10 when she attempted to obtain 60 tablets of Tramadol, a type of opioid, from Priceline Pharmacy in The Ponds, Western Sydney.

On May 27, Faasavalu is alleged to have then attempted to obtain 10 fentanyl patches from Ramsey Pharmacy Nowra. The following day, police allege Faasavalu attempted to obtain another 10 fentanyl patches from Good Price Pharmacy Nowra.

Less than an hour later, police allege Faasavalu attempted to garner 120 Endone Oxycodone tablets from Blooms Chemist in Nowra, a 10 minute drive away.

Anita Faasavalu. Picture: Facebook

Following an investigation, Faasavalu was charged by South Coast police with four counts of obtaining or attempting to obtain a prohibited drug by false representation, and a further four counts of attempting to induce dispensation of a prescription.

According to her bail considerations, Faasavalu was also charged with revocation of parole warrant as a result of the fraud charges, and has an extensive criminal history.

“The accused has no fixed address and is five months pregnant,” the documents state.

“She shows a high level of deceit and the use of unlawfully obtained prescription medication in the community poses significant risk.”

Faasavalu did not appear at the Nowra Local Court on June 6 where the matter was adjourned by Magistrate Michael O’Brien until June 28, and did not apply for bail.

Her lawyer told Magistrate O’Brien they could expect pleas of not guilty at a future date.

A Sydney woman co-accused of the alleged scam spree was also absent from the Nowra Local Court, after Magistrate O’Brien heard from her defence she was currently in rehab.

Chelsea Leyla Turner is charged with two counts of obtaining or attempting to obtain a prohibited drug by false representation, and a further two counts of attempting to induce dispensation of a prescription after a string of alleged instances across the Shoalhaven.

On May 24, Turner is alleged to have attempted to obtain an unspecified amount of Oxycodone from a pharmacy in Vincentia. A few hours later, she attempted to obtain the same drug from a pharmacy in Bomaderry.

The 39-year-old Merrylands woman has no ties to the Nowra area, according to bail consideration documents, and has a lengthy criminal history.

“She is well known for property, stealing, and related offences, and these new matters continue to show her lack of care,” the documents state.

“She last served a seven month prison sentence for these types of offences.”

CCTV footage from one or both of the pharmacies will also be analysed, police said.

Turner will reappear before the Nowra Local Court on June 14.