Deadly drug nitazene discovered at customs

A deadly drug, a thousand times stronger than morphine, has alerted Norwegian customs.

In Sweden, it has been seized several times – on one occasion disguised in different packaging.

– It is really dangerous, says Karin Björk, head of the laboratory at the Swedish Customs.

The generic name for the drug is nitazene. It is related to morphine and heroin and belongs to the synthetic opioid family, just like fentanyl. But the preparation is much stronger.

– It is very potent. More potent than fentanyl, says Karin Björk who is the head of the laboratory at the Swedish Customs Administration.

A few milligrams are enough for a lethal dose.

– You can suffer from drowsiness, confusion, respiratory arrest and death, says Karin Björk.

Norwegian customs have never before seen such a large influx of the drug into the country as in recent months. So far this year, seven seizures have been made. They have therefore issued a warning. Something like Strömstad newspaper reported on.

In Sweden, the Swedish Customs Service has confiscated all of the country’s stations. Since 2019, nine seizures have been made. This year, Nitazener has been discovered on three occasions.

Labeled as other preparations

Customs has found the narcotic-classified Nitazen in various forms – tablets, powder and liquid. They have also found the preparation in a medicine mill labeled Oxycontin. Then it is extra serious, explains Karin Björk.

– It may say how much a dose contains on the can, but it is then not certain that it is correct. You then have no idea how much you should actually dose. It can be really dangerous, she says.

If you ingest the preparation, there is a risk that the healthcare system will not be able to help you.

– Naloxone, which is commonly used as an antidote to fentanyls, does not work on this.

Risk for Customs personnel

Because of the drug’s potency, it is not only a risk for the user. It can also be a risk for, for example, the customs staff who handle the inflow.

– If it is in powder form, precautions must be taken. But with everything that you get in and that you suspect is prepared, you have to be careful.

How big the actual problem with the importation of Nitazen is, it is difficult for the Customs to answer.

– It can be a big dark story of course and it is difficult to say how it continued, says Karin Björk.