Broadmeadows: Cocaine cut with synthetic opioid linked to the death of four people

The update comes as a health alert is issued for the cocaine, which has been cut with synthetic opioid.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos, JUNE 25, 2024. Police at the scene in Broadmeadows where four bodies have been found. Picture: NewsWire / David Crosling

A deadly form of cocaine that has been cut with a synthetic opioid could be linked to the tragic deaths of four people.

Michael Hodgkinson, 32, was one of four people who were found dead inside a unit in Broadmeadows, Melbourne, last week.

Abdul El Sayed, 17, also died, along with a 37-year-old man and a 42-year-old woman.

On Thursday, Victoria police said preliminary tests have confirmed the presence of a synthetic opioid in the system of all four people.

Police at the scene in Broadmeadows where four bodies have been found. Picture: NewsWire / David Crosling

There was no presence of fentanyl has been detected at this time, police said.

The deaths are still being treated as non-suspicious at this time.

Police are keen to speak to anyone who may have further information about the incident.

The update comes as the Victorian Department of Health issued an alert for the synthetic opioid Protonitazene.

“There have been recent serious harms in Melbourne associated with a white powder sold as cocaine that contained protonitazene,” the alert said.

“The product appears to produce strong adverse effects such as loss of consciousness, respiratory depression, and life-threatening hypoxia (insufficient oxygen for normal functioning).”