New law powers the Australian Border Force to seize 'synthetic drugs' with psychoactive effect

The Australian government has finally figured out a way to stop the importers that tweak the chemical structure of the psychoactive component present in drugs to escape prosecution. The illegal practice has led to an import of dangerous “synthetic drugs,” which are then distributed across other people.

According to the joint statement recently released by the Minister of Justice and the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, the officers of the Australian Border Force now have a right and the power to seize such synthetic drugs at their will. According to the government statement, this will prevent the synthetic drugs from making it to the common streets, irrespective of their chemical structure.

The new law called The Crimes Legislation Amendment (Psychoactive Substances and Other Measures) Act 2015 has been enforced by the coalition government. The act provides a provision to ban the import of all substances with a psychoactive component and no valid use or application.

Previously, criminals were safely able to escape prosecution for illegal drug import by tweaking the chemical structure of the psychoactive component in the synthetic drug. The law that has been governing such criminals so far banned the illicit drugs only on the basis of their chemical structures, thus providing an opportunity to the criminals to prevent prosecution by introducing minor tweaks to the drug.

“The new ban will also help stop synthetic drugs from being presented as ‘legal’, and improve our ability to stop new drugs from entering the market, causing harm to our community and wreaking havoc on young lives,” states the press release by the Ministry of Justice.

The press release further states that since synthetic drugs are marketed as a legal alternative to illegal drugs, people often have an implication that these are credible and safe. However, in reality, such drugs pose a serious risk to the people, especially the younger generation, and may even result in serious injuries or death.

The recently imposed law also states that those who are caught while trying to import synthetic drugs into Australia will have to face imprisonment up to five years or a fine of $54,000. In addition to the synthetic drugs, the Australian Border Force now has the right to seize the drugs that are presented to mimic the effect of the illicit drugs.

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