A new documentary, Poison Pills, delves into the alarming issue of counterfeit drugs sold by licensed pharmacies, using hidden cameras to reveal that these establishments are distributing oxycodone laced with fentanyl and Adderall mixed with methamphetamine. Unlike street dealers, these legitimate Mexican pharmacies are selling dangerous substances to American tourists seeking a party and to elderly customers searching for affordable medications. The involvement of cartels is highly likely.
The documentary is captivating. It is spearheaded by Adam Auctor, the founder of the drug-testing company Bunk Police, which will soon be rebranded as Transparency (more details on that next week). Auctor, along with a partner, travelled across Mexico to cities like Tijuana, Cabo, Puerto Vallarta, Tulum, Cancun, and Cozumel, where they investigated pharmacies undercover.
Auctor encountered various shocking situations, such as a pharmacist offering to sell him thousands of pills for smuggling into the U.S. and another pharmacist providing instructions on microwaving and snorting veterinary ketamine. He even received a death threat.
My previous guest Ben Westhoff (Fentanyl Inc) was interviewed for the documentary and served as its lead story editor. I highly recommend it. The film serves as a wake-up call for anyone considering purchasing cheap pills for recreational or medical purposes and highlights how Mexican cartels have further strengthened their hold on the country’s drug supply.
Is this relevant to New Zealand?
Very much so. No country in the world is immune to the importation of tainted or in fact counterfeit medications. A news report from April 2024 reported that fake diazepam tablets containing a deadly synthetic opioid had been detected in Wellington and could be circulating nationwide. According to Drug Information and Alerts Aotearoa New Zealand (DIAANZ), traces of N-Desethyletonitazene were found in the blue, circular tablets. There are concerns anyone who takes the medication assuming it to be diazepam could face significant risk of harm, or death, from just a single tablet.
