Exclusive: SBS Radio investigation reveals prohibited drugs readily available for sale in Australian South Asian grocery stores
Monday 12 December, 2016
News Release
llegally imported Indian Kamini' tablets found to contain opiates
An exclusive investigation led by SBS Radio's Punjabi program has revealed illegal importation of prohibited drugs to Australia. Readily available to purchase in South Asian grocery stores, the pill known as Kamini Vidrawan Ras (Kamini), was found to include opium and heavy toxic metal and that consumption can cause serious health outcomes.
After listeners started to raise concerns about the availability and increased sale of Kamini, SBS Radio commissioned independent laboratory testing on products purchased in Melbourne, which revealed that the pills contain Codeine, Morphine and Papaverine - major components found in Opium.
SBS Punjabi Radio Executive Producer, Manpreet Kaur Singh, said: Many people have contacted us about opiates and other illicit substances imported from India being easily accessible in most Australian cities. At least two people who have been affected by the consumption of Kamini tablets spoke to us during this investigation, raising concern about its widespread use within the community.
Originally marketed as an Indian Viagra', Kamini is sold as an Ayurvedic remedy to improve men's virility in India. However, it is also taken as a supplement, which users believe improves physical stamina and maintains alertness.
The investigation found that there was between one and five per cent (approximately between 2mg and 20mg) of Opium in a typical Kamini tablet. The effects of consumption can lead to personal and financial problems for those addicted.
Dr Gurdip Aurora, a medical practitioner from Melbourne, is concerned about the easy availability of the drug, being sold in the guise of an ancient Indian herbal therapy: This is definitely not an Ayurvedic medicine. It contains chemicals and components which are probably banned in most countries around the world. It is highly addictive. This medicine is so dangerous that if someone overdoses on it, it can even be fatal.
During the investigation, an anonymous source from within the Indian community informed SBS Radio that Kamini pills are imported into the country through shipping containers, alongside everyday grocery items including wheat, lentils, spices and snack-foods.
The source told SBS Radio: Although I know of one person who used to import shoes and would bring in these things hidden inside shoes, I would say 90% of this stuff is now being shipped in by food importers.
Following the testing of two available products, the Australian Government Department of Health - Therapeutic Goods Administration has advised that Kamini tablets pose serious health risks and contain substances that are prescription-only in Australia.
They further advise that substances found in these tablets are prohibited imports under the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956 if licensing and permit requirements are not met before importation and that the supply of these products in Australia is illegal. Full details here: http://www.tga.gov.au/alert/multani-kamini-vidrawan-ras-tablets-and-ayurvedant-kamini-vidravan-ras-tablets.
Peter Shelton, Manager of Regulatory Services at the City of Greater Dandenong, told SBS that the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services is aware of the availability of Kamini and has issued a warning to all local governments about it.
We did receive advice from the State Department of Health about [Kamini] asking us to be aware of it, and to look for it when we're doing inspections, but we haven't come across it in our municipality as yet, he said.
The Department of Immigration and Border Protection, which oversees the work of the Australian Border Force (ABF), acknowledged that the ABF had detected importations of Kamini at Australia's borders.
A spokesperson said: The Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956 prohibit the importation of medications such as this, which contain opium, and the ABF will seize the goods.
When contacted by SBS Radio, Victoria Police advised that they had not currently been involved in the seizure of Kamini.
The SBS Radio investigation also found that chewing tobacco was readily available to purchase in South Asian grocery stores. According to Australian law, up to 1.5 kilograms of smokeless tobacco can be imported for personal use and must be declared, and any sale is banned and deemed unsafe for the public.
A comprehensive report on the investigation is now available online at the SBS Radio Punjabi website, including detailed responses from all stakeholders.
Watch the full report on SBS World News at 6.30 pm
Most recent headlines
17/12/2025
Investigative journalists across the Western Balkans and T rkiye continue to con...
17/12/2025
Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame Inducts 10 Industry Icons During Unforgettable ...
17/12/2025
ESPN to Debut MNF Playbook with Next Gen Stats, a New AI-Driven NFL Data-AltCastThe series, powered by Adrenaline TruPlay AI, launches Dec. 22 and runs through ...
17/12/2025
Inaugural Optum Golf Channel Games Debut Under the Lights' in Primetime on ...
17/12/2025
The right playlist is essential on New Year's Eve, building the energy as you get ready and keeping it high as you count down to midnight. This year, Spotif...
17/12/2025
eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({...
17/12/2025
Audiences Watched Over 103 Billion Minutes of TV on Thanksgiving Day
NFL Games ...
17/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
17/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
17/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
17/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
17/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
17/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
17/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
17/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
17/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
17/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
17/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
17/12/2025
KPop Demon Hunters Stars Visit Berklee for Weeklong Celebration Andrew Choi and EJAE, who voiced the film's main characters and contributed to its soundtr...
17/12/2025
Wednesday 17 December 2025
Heated Rivalry will be coming to Sky and streaming service NOW on 10 JanuaryTurn on cookies to view this content. Go to Privacy opti...
17/12/2025
Back to All News
Inside The Unseen World Of Indian Customs: Netflix Reveals The...
17/12/2025
Back to All News
Netflix announces PAPARAZZI KING: the docu series coming to Ne...
17/12/2025
Back to All News
Netflix Unveils First Look at Jo Nesbo's Detective Hole Pr...
17/12/2025
Back to All News
Netflix Welcomes Warner Bros. Discovery Board Recommendation
Business
17 December 2025
Global
Link copied to clipboard
After Careful Revi...
17/12/2025
RT has announced that Kathy Fox has been appointed Commissioning Editor with re...
17/12/2025
The Hao AI Lab research team at the University of California San Diego - at the forefront of pioneering AI model innovation - recently received an NVIDIA DGX B...
17/12/2025
Editor's note: This post is part of Into the Omniverse, a series focused on ...
17/12/2025
With the new season of Dancing with the Stars shimmering in the not-too-distant future this New Year, the celebrity and dancer pairings of the twelve couples ha...
16/12/2025
Hawkins has landed on Spotify, just in time for Stranger Things Season 5, Volume...
16/12/2025
Wherever you are, your favorite music and audio content should go seamlessly with you. That's why Spotify has partnered with NAVER Corp, Korea's leading...
16/12/2025
2025 Wrapped arrived bigger and bolder than ever. This year's experience is designed to be ultra personal and shareable, with new features like Wrapped Part...
16/12/2025
Three 12-kilowatt Advanced Electric Propulsion System thrusters, supplied by L3Harris Technologies, form the core of Gateway's propulsion system. Pictured i...
16/12/2025
The challenge facing America's defense industrial base is not just about speed - its about rebuilding the foundation that makes speed possible. Our nations ...
16/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
16/12/2025
SEVILLE, Spain Canal Sur, the public broadcasting service for Andalusia, Spain, has completed a total technology refresh based on Pebble's resilient, softwa...
16/12/2025
NEW YORK Teleprompting hardware provider Telescript International has acquired all software code and intellectual property previously owned by Telescript West. ...
16/12/2025
As cable operators face increased competition from 5G fixed wireless access providers, a new report from Ookla Research finds that T-Mobile is the FWA speed lea...
16/12/2025
Apple has announced a major upgrade to the Apple TV app for device owners outside the Apple ecosystem with news that the Apple TV app for Android now supports G...
16/12/2025
Space42 grows Direct-to-Device partner ecosystem through a Memorandum of Underst...
16/12/2025
16 Dec 2025
VEON Announces Release Date for Full Year and Fourth Quarter 2025 R...
16/12/2025
16 Dec 2025
VEON's Kyivstar Invests in Renewable Energy in Ukraine with Acq...
16/12/2025
Back to All News
Emma Appleton, Fares Fares, Frida Gustavsson and Jakob Oftebro...
16/12/2025
Back to All News
Docu-reality My Korean Boyfriend Gets a Trailer and Premiere D...
16/12/2025
Harmonic's XOS Advanced Media Processor Improves Streaming Video Quality and Boosts Viewer Engagement SAN JOSE, Calif. - Dec. 16, 2025 - Harmonic (NASDAQ: ...
16/12/2025
RT Sport Awards 2025 live on RT One and RT Player at 8:05pm on Saturday 20 December.
On Saturday 20 December live on RT One and RT Player at the earlier t...
16/12/2025
Singer -songwriter Brian Kennedy has been announced as the final celebrity dance...
15/12/2025
Harlem Globetrotters Celebrate 100th Anniversary With New Brand Campaign From Th...
15/12/2025
Top L-R: La Tierra Del Valor (The Home of the Brave), Mangittatuarjuk (The Gnawe...
15/12/2025
L3Harris will leverage 15 years of experience supporting the E-4B Nightwatch and...
Exclusive: SBS Radio investigation reveals prohibited drugs readily available for sale in Australian South Asian grocery stores
