Police probe supply chain after death of teen and two more in hospital after overdose

Police are making “every endeavour” to find suppliers after a teen death from a suspected fantasy or GHB drug overdose which put an NRL star’s brother in hospital. Read their warnings

Another view of the house in Arundel where a man died and two others have been hospitalised - with one fighting for life - after a suspected drug overdose, Sunday, May 14, 2023.

Those responsible for supplying a mystery drug claiming a young man’s life and putting the younger brother of NRL players Payne and Klese Haas in hospital face life in jail, police warn.

Zeda Haas, 19, was one of three men rushed to hospital after paramedics were called to addresses at Gaven and Arundel on Sunday morning after what sources said was a suspected overdose of GHB, or fantasy.

Haas was found unconscious at the Gaven residence and was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital in a critical condition.

Haas and another 19-year-old made a miraculous recovery and were released from hospital on Sunday afternoon.

The third man, 19-year-old Jeremiah Lolohea, died shortly after being rushed to hospital.

Jeremiah Lolohea who died shortly after being rushed to hospital when emergency services were called to a suspected multiple overdose horror on the Gold Coast. Picture: Facebook

Gold Coast police superintendent Rhys Wildman said detectives were investigating how the teens came into possession of the substance and those responsible faced potential drug supply charges: “Depending on what it was and what the toxicology report comes back with, there may be other charges. Supplying a dangerous drug is a criminal offence which carries up to life imprisonment, so it certainly has some serious repercussions.

“Certainly we will be making every endeavour to identify the supplier of the particular substance that was used in this instance.

“At this stage it’s very early on in the investigation and we are working with the families involved to try to understand the full circumstances. Once we get all the information then a determination will be made around any particular charges.”

Despite being treated as a suspected GHB overdose, Supt Wildman said it could take months for the toxicology to confirm what exactly it was.

“There are conversations around what we think it is but obviously we have to be cautious. With drug use, you just don’t know when you are buying things from random people.”

Gold Coast police superintendent Rhys Wildman. Picture: Richard Gosling

Supt Wildman said the Queensland Ambulance Service had not reported any similar incidents over the weekend.

“Whether it is the batch or whether it is the dose, we are unsure of what was consumed.

“We’ll have to wait for the toxicology to come back and that may take a little bit of time. It could be weeks, to months, I’d suggest for it to come back.

Supt Wildman said police wanted to highlight the dangers of taking drugs.

“These drugs are not made in a factory, they don’t have specific legislation and policy wrapped around them to make sure thereis quality control,” he said. “You are literally making a roll of a dice decision around some of these drugs.

Zeda Haas. Picture: Facebook

“It’s not like going into a chemist where you know exactly what you’re getting. This is someone on a street corner selling these materials and you just don’t know where they’re made and what’s in them.”

Gold Coast University Hospital emergency medicine director Dr David Green said it was a reminder GHB and fantasy were among the most “highly dangerous” drugs.

“GHB wasn’t a drug of abuse until 20 years ago. (Now) it’s frequently used and it’s a common overdose we see here.”

Dr Green said the most overdose patients were people in their 20s and 30s: “One of the problems with GHB is the dose required to have an effect - if you double that, it can be lethal.”

Dr Green said GHB and fantasy overdoses occur “episodically” on the Coast - meaning groups suddenly present to ED.

Entrance to the house in Gaven where a man was found in relation to fatal drug overdose incident at a house in Arundel, Sunday, May 14, 2023. One man died and two people have been hospitalised-one fighting for life.

“It could be batch related, could be access related, or distribution related. The most dangerous overdoses - ones that lead to death - are isolated users who use it on their own.”

Tributes have poured in for Mr Lolohea, including from a woman believed to be his sister.

“We are completely devastated and are trying to navigate our way through this news,” she wrote on Facebook.

“Jeremiah Lolohea – we love you so much, to the heavens and back. Please watch over us and guide us through this extremely difficult time.”

Another relative posted a Facebook tribute sending “love, prayers and condolences to our Lolohea family”.

“Rest in God’s love Jeremiah Tu’alongo Nu’uhiva Lolohea,” she wrote. “Fly high our dearest brother/cousin.”