Customs warns about an extremely dangerous substance in the drug trade
Customs in Helsinki detained narcotic tablets that contained a previously unclassified extremely dangerous substance. The substance has been sold as oxymorphone. However, it was observed in the examinations by the Customs Laboratory that the tablets contained protodesnitazene. Protodesnitazene is an extremely dangerous synthetic opioid that has not previously been detected in Europe.
Protodesnitazene is a new synthetically manufactured drug that belongs to the group of nitazene-type opioids. The effects of nitazens are considerably stronger than morphine and heroin, for example, up to 500 times stronger than heroin. The doses are at the microgram level.
Due to their strong effects, nitazenes are extremely dangerous to users, as they can cause respiratory depression like other opioids, and because of their potency, even very small doses can lead to life-threatening respiratory failure.
– Even a single protodesnitazene tablet can be fatal to the user. A person buying drugs can never be certain that the substance is what the seller claims it to be. So far, Customs is not aware of any drug-related deaths in Finland caused by the substance we have found, says Director of Enforcement Hannu Sinkkonen.
Customs warns drug users about extremely dangerous tablets containing protodesnitazene, which may be sold online or on the street market. The tablet may be sold as oxycodone or oxymorphone.
Unclassified dangerous substances should be allowed to be disposed of – requires a legislative change
Legislation should be developed
Protodesnitazene is not classified as a narcotic. If a substance is not classified as a narcotic, it must be returned to the importer or cleared through customs. Customs has endeavoured to promote the need for a clear legislative amendment. Unclassified dangerous narcotics should be allowed to be disposed of, for example by court order, even if they have not yet been classified as narcotics.