Police and veterinarians are concerned that Northland vets are being burgled and dangerous drugs capable of killing people and animals stolen.
Police are worried the drugs - which include powerful animal tranquilisers - will make their way on to the illegal drug market and could cause fatalities if taken.
Northland police communications
officer Sarah Kennett said thieves broke into the Top Vets clinic in Kaitaia last month and stole several 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 sparked a warning from police on the dangers of the drugs stolen and has the Veterinary Council of NZ concerned.
Ms Kennett said the drugs could be circulating in the community and had the potential to kill people.
Pentobarbital is used for euthanizing large animals and as little as 2ml will kill a person if ingested in any way. Ketamine, an anaesthetic drug, causes hallucinations and can lead to severe heart and breathing problems, even death.
On the streets, it is often called Special K. Sometimes ketamine is combined with other tranquilising drugs and this is particularly dangerous, as the mixture of drugs will quickly depress breathing to dangerous levels. Ketamine has also been used as a "date rape" drug.
"Aside from these immediate life-threatening problems, ketamine is very addictive and when taken regularly causes memory problems and behavioural changes," she said.
"Barbiturate and narcotic drugs are also extremely dangerous as they depress breathing, which can lead to death."
Vet Council registrar Janet Eden said it was a concern if vet clinics were being targeted for powerful and dangerous drugs.
Ms Eden 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 the reality is that vets keep these drugs in a locked cabinet anyway. Pentobarbital is also controlled and these drugs are essential for a vet to do their work," she said.
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.
