Zombie-drug flakka has arrived in the holiday paradise of Byron Bay, with violent users causing havoc throughout the town.
The tourist destination on the New South Wales north coast is fast losing its reputation as an idyllic party town as police struggle with the drug scourge.
Footage taken with officers on nightly patrols show youths snorting drugs in public, violent addicts being arrested and people passed out in gutters.
Zombie-drug flakka has arrived in the holiday paradise of Byron Bay, with violent users causing havoc throughout the town (pictured is a man passed out in the town)
The tourist destination on the New South Wales north coast is fast losing its reputation as an idyllic party town as police struggle with the drug scourge (pictured are police making an arrest)
The idyllic beachside town of Byron Bay is a magnet for holidaymakers from around the world
Tweed Byron Police Detective Inspector Matt Kehoe said flakka users are a nightmare for law enforcement, and said the drug is worse than ice.
‘They have an incredible pain threshold, it has been described as superhuman strength,’ he told Seven News.
‘It is disappointing, you do see drugs being dealt openly here.’
Shocked tourists are finding themselves victims of assaults, with one woman describing how she was punched in the face while out on the town for her birthday.
Footage taken with officers on nightly patrols show youths snorting drugs in public, violent addicts being arrested and people passed out in gutters (pictured are police making an arrest)
Tweed Byron Police Detective Inspector Matt Kehoe said flakka users are a nightmare for law enforcement, and said the drug is worse than ice (pictured is a police car allegedly smashed by a drug user)
Byron Bay’s reputation as an idyllic party town is in tatters as the destination grapples with violent users of the drugs flakka and ice
‘The guy lined me up, held my face and punched me in the face,’ said Inga Schollbach, in Byron Bay as a tourist.
Another traveller, from North American, said a violent man he feared had a knife threatened to kill him.
While police are busy arresting violent offenders, drunk and drug-affected young men fill the streets at night causing carnage.
Video from the police beat shows a group of men snorting drugs off rubbish bins before scaling the wall to a construction site.
Byron Bay, a popular destination for international tourists and Hollywood power couples such as Liam Hemsworth (pictured, left) and Miley Cyrus (pictured, left), is also dealing with a ice epidemic
While police are busy arresting violent offenders, drunk and drug-affected young men fill the streets at night causing carnage (pictured is Byron Bay)
Pictured is an user of the zombie-drug flakka – which gives users superhuman strength – filmed overseas
Others can be seen crowded around a bus stop, acting aggressively and damaging public property.
Police have been criticised for two heavy-handed arrests, including one which took place in front of horrified holidaymakers on a crowded beach.
Last week a female officer was filmed allegedly knocking a teenager unconscious, but police claim the 18-year-old tried to bite the officer.
In January footage of four armed police arresting a teenage boy went viral, but police claim the 16-year-old was being aggressive and resisting arrest.
Byron Bay, a popular destination for international tourists and Hollywood power couples such as Liam Hemsworth and Miley Cyrus, is also dealing with a ice epidemic, which locals say costs far less than in capital cities.
At Christmas a Canadian tourist, who police said was high on ice, was arrested after allegedly throwing himself into a police car and smashing the windscreen.