Flood of heroin to hit street
June 17, 2008 03:15am
AN "unprecedented" crop yield of opium in Afghanistan has Australian soldiers and federal police working overtime to stop a flood of heroin hitting local streets.
Increased farming produced a record 8200 tonnes last year - equal to 93 per cent of the world market. In the same year, Australia counted the highest ever number of border heroin detections, a national report has revealed.
The Australian Crime Commission's Illicit Drug Data Report states the rising production of opium in Afghanistan could soon become
Australia's main source of heroin via the Middle East, West Africa and India.
"Countries with convenient links to Afghanistan, such as India and Middle East countries, will emerge as transit points to Australia.
"A rise in the quantity of heroin imported from Afghanistan may see heroin more readily available to users."
It also said the emergence of West African nations like Nigeria as key heroin ports had seen the development of criminal networks in the region, which infiltrated Australia and Asia.
While Australian soldiers were working to persuade opium farmers to leave their lucrative crops, more AFP officers would soon join them in an advisory role to the Afghan police, Australian Crime Commission CEO Alastair Milroy confirmed.
But Mr Milroy said the bulk of heroin consignments being intercepted at Australian borders were sourced from the South-East Asian "Golden Triangle".
"We don't expect that to change in the immediate future," he said.
The total weight of intercepted heroin importations increased by 79 per cent last year.
But Minister for Home Affairs Bob Debus said this did not result in an influx on the streets.
"The figures indicate more advanced detection methods," he said.
