• Drugs were stolen from an air ambulance helicopter at Taieri airfield in Otago, endangering the treatment of patients.
• Detective Sergeant Hayden Smale warned the drugs could be fatal if used recreationally.
• Police are investigating and urge anyone with information to contact them.

Drugs have been stolen from an air ambulance helicopter, prompting police to issue a “stark warning” that it would put patients at risk and could kill anyone who used them recreationally.

The helicopter was at Taieri airfield in Otago when it was targeted on the weekend, acting area investigations manager Detective Sergeant Hayden Smale said.

If air crews did not know of the theft and had been dispatched to an emergency incident “there could have been fatal consequences”, chief executive of Helicopters Otago Graheme Gale said.

Smale said: “Beyond putting the lives of air ambulance patients at risk by taking these essential medical supplies, some of the drugs stolen pose a significant risk to anyone who may choose to take them recreationally.

“The wrong combination or dosage could potentially be fatal, and we urge extreme caution for anyone who may come into contact with these stolen medical supplies.

“We continue to investigate this matter and will be working hard to identify any available lines of inquiry.”

Gale said the helicopter had just come from an incident in Queenstown where a critically ill person was flown to Dunedin Hospital.

“The helicopter and crew were forced to hold over at the base in North Taieri due to bad weather.

“If the helicopter and crew had responded to an incident unaware that the bag had been taken, there could have been fatal consequences.”

Smale said police wanted to hear from anyone with information about the burglary.

“If you have information to share please get in touch via our 105 service, quoting reference number 250112/9460.

“You can also share information anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Raphael Franks is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. He joined the Herald as a Te Rito cadet in 2022.