An Australian man whose son died after taking a synthetic drug posed as a crime boss to infiltrate the gangs importing the drugs into the country.
Rob Bridge met drug bosses in the Chinese city of Hefei, identifying himself as a potential buyer, to discuss importing the substances into Australia. He was offered more than five types of synthetic drugs, and told by the suppliers they could guarantee deliveries of up to 200kg within seven days, The Telegraph reports.
Mr Bridge was accompanied by a Channel Nine TV crew, and they recorded the meetings with hidden devices. The traffickers told them they ‘have lots of experience sending packages to Australia’, adding, ‘we know how customs works. Don’t worry, Australia is safe.’
The suppliers then demonstrated how they hid the drugs in sealed bags and fish tank filters.
Mr Bridge has been on a crusade to highlight the dangers of synthetic drugs since his 16-year-old son Preston died in 2013 after taking 25i-NBOMe, a synthetic LSD-style drug his friend bought off Silk Road. Preston apparently believed he could fly and fell off a balcony.
He says he hopes his efforts will prompt police and customs to crack down on the supply of synthetic substances, and hopefully save other lives.
He said:
We’re on the verge of some sort of tsunami about to happen and these synthetic drugs that are coming in are just going to get bigger and bigger and this has got to stop. Somebody’s got to stop it.
