Palmerston driving instructor Scott Watts charged with importing synthetic opioids

The father-of-two’s lawyer said the charge had ‘all the hallmarks of someone on the dark web ordering small quantities of synthetic opioids’.

Acting Commander Ian Kelly said there had been an increase in detections of metonitazene coming into Australia through the international mail system. Picture: Australian Federal Police

A Palmerston driving instructor busted allegedly importing synthetic opioids into the Territory via the dark web will spend Christmas at home with his young family after being granted bail.

Scott Anthony Watts, 39, faced the Darwin Local Court on Tuesday charged with allegedly importing metonitazene through the mail from the United Kingdom.

A spokesman for the Australian Federal Police said officers had launched an investigation after receiving a tip off about a package allegedly containing the “potent opioid” destined for the NT.

Australian Border Force officers in NSW subsequently examined an international mail consignment and allegedly found five grams of the drug concealed in Band-Aid boxes.

A raid at Watts’ Gray home on Friday then allegedly turned up “a number of opioids, illicit substances and electronic devices”.

His lawyer Peter Maley told the court the father-of-two had never been in trouble before and would surrender his passport if granted bail.

“He’s got nowhere to go, the man’s wife and children are here, God’s policeman, he’s not going anywhere and it’s in his interest to deal with these matters,” he said.

“Early days yet but you would think this matter has all the hallmarks of someone on the dark web ordering small quantities of synthetic opioids.

“Who knows, it might resolve summarily by way of a plea of guilty once the full brief’s been disclosed.”

The metonitazene was allegedly concealed inside Band-Aid boxes. Picture: Australian Federal Police

In granting Watts bail on a $5000 surety, judge Ray Murphy said he was satisfied any flight risk could be ameliorated.

The ABF’s Ian Kelly said there had been an increase in detections of metonitazene coming into Australia through the international mail system.

Speaking gneerally, Commander Kelly said the pills were being sent in relatively small amounts, concealed in a number of items, including bandages and medical adhesives as well as consignments of children’s toys.

“ABF officers have recorded 22 detections of this highly dangerous substance in October, compared to just two detections in the nine months previous to that,” he said.

Therapeutic Goods Administration head Anthony Lawler said there were no approved medical uses for the nitazene class of synthetic opioids in Australia.

“These compounds have been estimated in some instances to be up to hundreds of times more potent than morphine,” Prof Lawler said.

“The significant potency of the substances and associated risk of respiratory depression and death means that they are considered unsuitable for use in a therapeutic context.”

Watts will return to court on January 30.