Police warning after theft of vet drugs

Police and veterinarians are concerned that Northland vets are being targeted for dangerous drugs capable of killing people.

Police are worried the drugs - which include powerful tranquillisers for animals - will be sold on the black market.

Northland police communications officer Sarah Kennett said thieves broke into the Top Vets clinic in Kaitaia last month and stole drugs including pentobarbital and ketamine.

In a later burglary of a Mangonui vet, the drug cabinet was broken into but no drugs were taken.

The burglaries have prompted a warning from police on the dangers of the drugs and have alarmed the Veterinary Council.

Ms Kennett said the drugs could be circulating in the community and had the potential to kill.

Pentobarbital is used for euthanising large animals and as little as 2ml can kill a person.

Ketamine, an anaesthetic, causes hallucinations and can lead to severe heart and breathing problems, even death.

On the street, it is often called Special K, and has been used as a "date rape" drug. It is also addictive.

Sometimes ketamine is combined with other tranquillising drugs and this is particularly dangerous as the mixture will quickly depress breathing to dangerous levels.

Veterinary Council registrar Janet Eden said it was a concern if clinics were being targeted for powerful and dangerous drugs.

She said ketamine had recently been reclassified by the Ministry of Health under the Misuse of Drugs Act and had to be stored in a locked metal cabinet from December 1, unless required for immediate use.

"But vets keep these drugs in a locked cabinet anyway.

Ms Kennett said anyone with information regarding the burglaries or the stolen drugs should contact their local police station or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555-111.

- APN