SYDNEY: Large quantities of synthetic drugs have been seized by police in a series of raids across Queensland.
Police raided a sex shop in Mackay and removed boxes as part of an investigation.
It comes after two men aged 33 and 41 died after separately using synthetic cannabis in Mackay this week.
Further searches have also been conducted at adult stores in Rockhampton, Bundaberg, Mackay and Toowoomba, police said.
Inspector Darrin Shadlow said an investigation had been stepped up after the two deaths.
“Both persons were believed to be smoking the synthetic cannabis Full Moon just prior to them collapsing,” Inspector Shadlow said.
“One of the male persons in Mackay only had one draw of the smoke and never regained consciousness.
Police believe the Full Moon brand of synthetic cannabis was responsible for two men’s deaths in Mackay
“So we really want to get the message out there to the public that this stuff that people are selling is highly dangerous.
“It is a chemical compound that they’re smoking, it is not meant for human consumption and unfortunately people are selling it to make a quick dollar out of it and they are putting people’s lives at risk.”
Inspector Shadlow said police had not yet charged anyone over the raids.
“No charges have been preferred at this stage, investigations will be ongoing, with a view to preferring charges at a later date, if it’s deemed necessary,” he said.
“A number of the items seized are different variations of the synthetic cannabis. We will conduct further investigations and examinations on those products to determine the exact chemical compound of them.”
