PENSIONERS DEATH DRUG DOORKNOCK
Police ask drug questions of right-to-die advocates during ‘welfare checks’
A NUMBER of elderly people have been questioned during late night police visits about the importation of a euthanasia drug, a right to die campaigner claims.
At least four members of Exit International Gold Coast were targeted between 10.30pm and midnight on Saturday, under the guise of welfare checks, although it is understood the checks are part of a wider Australian Federal Police operation.
It’s believed at least three other interstate members of Exit International were also targeted over the weekend.
Elaine Arch-Rowe, from Exit International, said she was called by distressed members on Sunday morning, who claimed police had asked them about end-of-life drug Nembutal.
“One of them, he’s 85, he was woken up at midnight … he was questioned about whether he had ordered the drug Nembutal from overseas and they also asked if they could come in and check his computer. He refused,” Ms Arch-Rowe claims.
“Another chap in Tweed Heads, they came at 11pm, two of them, he is wheelchairbound this fellow, extremely ill, the police were shining torches through windows and pounded on the door.
“When he realised it was the police he was really concerned because his wife and his daughter weren’t there at the time and his mind went to what had happened to them.
“They asked him the same questions about whether he had imported the drug.”
She said her members told her it was a welfare check, but were asked questions about the importation of the drug.
“That’s what they say (it’s a welfare check) and the thing is, do you do that at that time of the night? They said they acted on it when the information had come in.
“If you’re doing a welfare check, you don’t ask in the next minute if they’ve been trying to purchase a drug from overseas.
“They are so frightened that one of the chaps called me from a public phone box (fearing his phone had been tapped). That just shows you how worried these people are.”
Ms Arch-Rowe said it appeared that Exit International members were being targeted. “They’re all members.” The AFP who co-ordinated the “visits” said they were about ensuring the safety of those they thought may have imported a restricted substance.
“Once the AFP became aware of potential importations of a restricted substance, the AFP requested assistance from State and Territory police to conduct visits to individuals potentially involved in importing the substance,” a spokesman said.