TREES in the York and Toodyay areas have been stripped of bark used for the suspected production of a powerful hallucinogenic drug known as DMT.
WA Police recently warned the public of Dimethyltriptamine (DMT), which has recently become a more common recreational drug.
The illegal drug has a fast onset with intense but short-lived hallucinations, and experts are still unsure of what long-term health effects the substance has.
York police have asked residents to report suspicious behaviour following complaints about damage to acacia trees in nature reserves and historic sites in the area.
Stripping of acacia bark is not a new issue for the Avon Valley, with the Department of Environment inspecting some reserves for tree damage last year.
A spokesman for WA Police said while the bark was not illegal to possess, offenders could be charged if an ingredient used to produce DMT was also found.
“The laws surrounding it are similar to the khat tree; you can have the bark but if you have a chemical used in DMT manufacturing and the bark, then that is illegal,” he said.
He said the increase in DMT use in WA was likely spurred by the unavailability of chemicals used in the production of similar illegal drugs.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Environment said the community should report suspicious activity to their closest DEC office.
“People damaging or removing vegetation or parts of it are breaking the law under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950,” she said.
“The offence for taking protected flora on crown land is a penalty of up to $4000, or up to $10,000 for threatened flora.”
