Pubdate: Tue, 10 Oct 2006
Source: Sydney Morning Herald (Australia)
Copyright: 2006 The Sydney Morning Herald
Contact:  http://www.smh.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/441
Author: David Braithwaite

DARK ANGEL: POLICE ALERT ON 'SOFT SPEED'

The online purchase of a New Zealand-made drug touted  as the 
"strongest energy pill legally available in the  world" could land 
NSW residents in jail, police have  warned.

The benzylpiperazine-based products are legal in New  Zealand and 
marketed online under names such as "Dark  Angel", "Grin", "Red 
Hearts", "Majik", "Kandi",  "Frenzy", "Altitude" and "Humma", police said.

But NSW residents in possession of the synthetically  produced drugs 
faced two years' jail, the commander of  the Drug Squad, Detective 
Superintendent David Laidlaw,  said.

"We have identified a number of New Zealand-based  companies 
advertising on the internet, which are  supplying residents across 
Australia with these  products," he said.

"Law enforcement agencies in both countries are  liaising with the 
companies to make management aware of  the legalities of providing a 
drug of this type to NSW  residents.

"While these companies have not broken laws in New  Zealand, NSW 
residents receiving packages of tablets  containing benzylpiperazine 
face prosecution and  possible jail time."

Smh.com.au was able to find three New Zealand-based  websites selling 
benzylpiperazine-based pills online  within minutes.

One pill, called "Bolts", was "like a lightning bolt of  pure energy 
straight to your brain", a website said.

"Bolts are guaranteed to make your jaws clench, your  hair stand on 
end and your feet want to hit the dance  floor.

"Bolts are the strongest energy pills legally available  in the world today."

The site included usage instructions for the pills,  such as "do not 
redrop for at least two hours", and  noted they were not "herbal 
highs" but "semisynthetic  legal highs".

The pills could not be shipped to Australia, Sweden,  Greece or the 
US, the website said, warning buyers they  should check with their 
local customs department before  buying.

But another website, for an Auckland-based sports  nutrition store, 
did not mention any restriction on the  sale of 
benzylpiperazine-based pills to Australia.

The website sells a two-pack of "Majik" pills,  described as "great 
for more experienced users wanting  a strongly altered perception" 
for $NZ20 ($17.70).

Police said benzylpiperazine was a synthetic drug  developed as a 
potential antiparasitic agent and listed  as a prohibited drug in NSW.

Superintendent Laidlaw said benzylpiperazine could  produce an 
increased heart rate, nausea, headaches,  fatigue, insomnia, 
seizures, confusion and mild memory  loss.

Police said at least one death has been officially  linked with the 
use of benzylpiperazine.

"We are concerned that NSW residents ordering these  tablets via the 
internet are unaware of it being  illegal to possess," Superintendent 
Laidlaw said.

"People are also jeopardising their lives by using  these tablets and 
we strongly warn residents against  purchasing or using them."
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MAP posted-by: Elaine