Mapped: Fantasy, meth, cannabis and bute among SA’s 2025 drug busts so far
Fantasy, meth, cannabis, and the rise of a dangerous date-rape drug – we’ve mapped the SA drug busts revealed by cops so far this year.
SA News
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A “tidal wave” of a dangerous party and date-rape drug is entering Australia, authorities warn, with more than 155kg of it seized so far this year in SA.
Chemical solvent 1,4-Butanediol – also known as bute – is found in industrial cleaning products and biodegradable plastics but can also be misused as date-rape drug with dangerous consequences.
An Australian Border Force spokesperson said bute was declared a border-controlled drug in March last year because it was causing “escalating harm”.
“Bute is an industrial solvent that the body naturally converts into gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) once ingested, depressing and slowing down the functions of a person’s nervous system,” the spokesperson said.
“The world of drug trafficking is constantly changing and 1,4-Butanediol and nitazenes (synthetic opioids) are emerging as illicit substances of concern.”
Earlier this month, the Australian Federal Police and ABF jointly warned of the “tidal wave” of illegal bute imports.
“A matter of milligrams can be the difference between life and death,” the agencies cautioned.
While the majority of busts have taken place in NSW, authorities intercepted several bottles with the illicit substance bound for Solomontown in January and uncovered around 155 kgs in South Australia in May – the largest bust of the substance directly imported into SA so far.
Authorities are also concerned about the rise of synthetic opioids such as nitazenes – which can be up to 50 times stronger than fentanyl.
“While all illicit drugs are harmful, synthetic opioids are particularly dangerous and can lead to sedation, unconsciousness and death,” a police spokesperson said.
“These drugs can produce life-threatening toxic effects at very low doses.”
In SA, meth and cannabis were still two of the most commonly encountered illicit drugs in the state, SAPOL said.
A spokesperson said a multi-property search spanning across Salisbury, Hectorville, Wynn Vale, Campbelltown and Torrensville resulting in “one of the more notable” detections so far this year with the seizure of 140 mature cannabis plants, 10kg of dried cannabis, numerous items of hydroponic equipment and $30,000 cash.
The way people access drugs is also changing, “influenced by various factors including technology, online platforms and law enforcement”, they said.
“Police have a presence on the surface and dark web and online marketplaces to target those who threaten the safely of the South Australian community by trafficking illicit drugs,” a spokesperson said.
The Advertiser has mapped some of the major – and minor – drug busts so far of 2025. You can see the 2024 map here and the 2023 map here.
The suburbs mapped are intended as general locations reported by SAPOL. There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by people at these locations.
Glynde
Around 155kg of a deadly sedative called bute was uncovered by police at Glynde in May – the largest detected quantity to be brought directly into South Australia.
Commonly used as a party and ‘date-rape’ drug, the 1,4-Butanediol was imported from Hong Kong.
The drug, also known by the name ‘fantasy’, became a border-controlled drug last year.
AFP Acting Assistant Commissioner Paula Hudson said while 1,4-Butanediol has a “legitimate industrial use … significant volumes and concealment methods used in its illegal importation suggest it is targeted for a more nefarious use”.
Authorities have seized more than 3.8 tonnes of the substance across the country in the first four months of this year.
Elizabeth Park
A clandestine meth lab was allegedly found at Elizabeth Park in May.
Serious and Organised Crime Branch allege they found equipment used to manufacture methamphetamine.
Edwardstown and Morphett Vale
A large amount of cannabis and a hydroponic set-up were found in Adelaide’s southern suburbs in May.
Police found 30kg of dry cannabis and 16 cannabis plants being grown hydroponically at a house in Erudina Ave, Edwardstown.
A large amount of hydroponic equipment was also seized during the raid.
Just days later, another 1.7kg of dried cannabis was found in Morphett Vale.
Whyalla, Port Augusta
Authorities found 1.3kg of meth, $10,000 in cash, a high-end vehicle and stolen property after searching five premises in Whyalla and Port Augusta.
These were discovered as part of a major drug operation launched last December, which aimed to crack down on the sale and supply of illicit drugs across the two regional towns.
Meningie
An open boot led police to a highway drug bust in March.
Officers spotted the car driving down Princes Hwy at Meningie with its trunk open.
When police stopped the car, a man jumped out of the vehicle and tried to close the boot but it popped back open.
Police found the car boot stuffed with cannabis, partially covered by a brown sheet.
Officers seized the cannabis as well as a pair of secateurs.
Bound for Solomontown
Bottles of mechanical lubricant have been used in an effort to smuggle a date-rape drug into the state.
In January, Australian Border Force officers intercepted several bottles containing 1,4-Butanediol, known as “bute”, bound for Solomontown.
The drug was imported from China in bottles labelled “mechanical lubricant”.
Ninnes
A wild police chase led officers to a drug discovery in the state’s Mid-North in March.
Police began pursuing the car at Paralowie and ended along Upper Yorke Rd at Ninnes.
When police searched the Commodore, they found 200g of meth and liquid steroids.
Kadina
Drug equipment and 400g of cannabis were found at Kadina as part of a multi-unit operation on April 29.
A search of a Wallaroo property the same day also allegedly turned up a large amount of prescription medication and cannabis.
Port Vincent
Three cannabis plants and 17 resealable bags containing a total 3.1kg of cannabis were found at a Port Vincent property on May 7.
Whyalla
Illicit drugs, drug paraphernalia and weapons were seized by police in Whyalla on April 16.
Detectives searched three homes as part of the ongoing operation.
Blackfellows Caves, Penola
A cannabis crop and meth lab were discovered in two local drug busts in the state’s South-East in March.
A mature cannabis crop with more than 35 cannabis plants was found by Mount Gambier police at the small beachside town of Blackfellows Caves.
An hour drive away, at Penola, a meth lab was discovered with assistance from Serious and Organised Crime Branch detectives.
Lockleys
An hour-long chase involving a chopper led police to a luxury car where drugs and cash were discovered.
Officers attempted to stop the black Mercedes-Benz sedan travelling north on Tapleys Hill Rd in Seaton in January but the car sped off – later running through a set of boom gates.
A police chopper as well as extra ground patrols were called in to help and road spikes were used to try and bring the vehicle to a halt but the driver continued to evade police for nearly an hour while driving on the rims.
After the vehicle finally stopped on Horsley St in Lockleys, police searched the car and found more than $50,000 cash and about 10 grams of a substance believed to be meth.
Harrogate
Illicit drugs and prescribed drug equipment were found alongside an arsenal of weapons, explosives and stolen vehicles at a Harrogate home.
In February, Mount Barker police attended the Adelaide Hills address and found knuckledusters, two gel blasters, two large PVC pipe-based cannons, two small homemade explosive devices, illicit drugs and prescribed drug equipment.
A stolen boat and trailer and two motorbikes, suspected of being stolen, were also found.
Port Augusta and Whyalla Playford
Meth, cannabis and more than $36,000 cash were found during a traffic stop at Port Augusta in January.
The discovery led police to search the driver’s Whyalla Playford home, where they allegedly found a large commercial quantity of cannabis.
Bowmans
Hydroponically grown cannabis plants and a large amount of dried cannabis ready for sale were found at a property in Bowman in January.
Police also found scales, resealable bags and other items during the search.
Salisbury, Hectorville, Wynn Vale, Campbelltown and Torrensville
More than 100 cannabis plants and several kilos of the dried plant were found during a multi-suburb police search in March.
Eastern District Detectives seized 140 mature cannabis plants, 10kg of dried cannabis, numerous items of hydroponic equipment and $30,000 cash after police searched properties in Salisbury, Hectorville, Wynn Vale, Campbelltown and Torrensville.
Kingston SE
Cannabis and other drug paraphernalia were found at Kingston SE in May.
Limestone Coast Police and the Police Dog Operations Unit searched the property and found a trafficable amount of cannabis and the paraphernalia.
Lucindale
A trafficable amount of methamphetamine, a small amount of cannabis, drug paraphernalia, two double-edge knives, an expandable baton and a butterfly knife were found at a Lucindale property on May 9.
Adelaide Airport
More than 2kg of meth was found secreted in bath salt containers inside luggage at the airport on May 20.
Adelaide’s western suburbs
A raid of six homes across Woodville South, Seaton, Flinders Park, West Croydon and Ridleyton on May 27 and 28 allegedly found professional cannabis-growing operations, turning up a total of 305 cannabis plants, 30kg of dried cannabis and a trafficable quantity of cocaine.
A large quantity of prescribed equipment was also seized and five of the properties allegedly had illegal electrical diversions in place.
Ridleyton
Detectives searched a home and allegedly uncovered about 2.5kg of meth, approximately 400g of ecstasy and more than $50,000 in cash.
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Originally published as Mapped: Fantasy, meth, cannabis and bute among SA’s 2025 drug busts so far
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