Aust has ice crisis: drug report

The Australian Crime Commission says amphetamines are wreaking havoc across Australia with demand appearing in new areas.

Ice seized by police

The Australian Crime Commission has reported record drug seizures for the 2013-14 financial year. (AAP)

If it wasn't already abundantly clear, the latest national drug report confirms Australia has an ice problem.

Seizures of amphetamines and arrests for amphetamine offences in 2013-14 were the highest on record.

The actual weight seized was down on 2012-13 but still the second highest ever.

Australian Crime Commission chief executive Chris Dawson said methylamphetamines were wreaking havoc in every state and territory, ruining lives, families and communities.

"We are now seeing demand for methylamphetamines in areas where the drug has not previously been a significant issue," he said in the report.

"This includes urban and rural areas and disadvantaged communities where it is having a destructive impact."

Justice Minister Michael Keenan said the report showed Australian law enforcement agencies seized a record 27 tonnes of illicit drugs in 93,000 seizures and made more than 110,000 arrests.

"While there is no doubt we are disrupting more criminal and detecting more illicit drugs than ever before, the illicit drug market remains the principle source of profit for organised crime and continues to be a key focus for law enforcement," he said in a statement.

The illicit drug data report is prepared annually by the ACC, compiling information from federal, state and territory police and Customs.

The report identifies a number of changes in the Australian drug market.

Weight of heroin seized was down 71 per cent but for the first time ever, heroin originating in South America was detected.

Performance and image enhancing drugs, mostly steroids, continue to be seized in big numbers with 6,885 busts, down from the 10,356 detections in 2012-13.

AUSTRALIA'S DRUG TRADE AT ALL-TIME HIGH:

* 93,086 drug seizures in 2013-14, up from 86,918 in 2012-13.

* 27.3 tonnes of drugs seized, up from 19.6 tonnes.

* Biggest bust was 10 tonnes of benzaldehyde, used for manufacturing methylamphetamine.

* 112,049 were arrested for drug offences, up from 101,749.

* Number of clandestine laboratories for producing methylamphetamine has increased 95.2 per cent over last decade.

* 744 labs detected in 2013-14, 340 in Queensland.

* 4076 kg of amphetamines seized, down from 6453 kg.

* 26,269 amphetamine arrests in 2013-14, up from 22,189.

* 7 tonnes of cannabis seized, with 66,684 arrests and 53,404 seizures.

* 158 kg of heroin seized from 1598 seizures and 2771 arrests.

* 317 kg of cocaine seized with 1466 arrests.


Share

3 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world