Illicit Drug Data Report 2005 - 06

[lil angel15]

The latest Illicit Drug data report has been released by the Australian Crime Commission (ACC). The link is provided below.

Illicit Drug Data Report 2005–06

Snapshot - Illicit Drug Data Report 2005–06

 

[lil angel15]

The Australian Government’s National Drugs Strategy impacts on the war on drugs

Australian Government initiatives to restrict the sale of pseudoephedrine and the importation of precursor chemicals have had a significant effect on the number of clandestine labs detected in Australia.

This is one of the findings of the Australian Crime Commission’s latest annual Illicit Drug Data Report (IDDR) released today by the Minister for Justice and Customs, Senator DavidJohnston.

“A 23 percent drop in clandestine laboratory detections in Queensland, where the pilot for ‘Project Stop’ was conducted, testify to the success of this joint Australian Government /Pharmacy Guild of Australia initiative.

“Providing pharmacists another means of checking the legitimacy of pseudoephedrine purchases has proven successful in Queensland. Further government funding this year has allowed us to roll out ‘Project Stop’ Australia wide.

The IDDR compiles drug data from the Australian Federal Police, Customs, all state and territory police services and the forensic laboratories responsible for analysing drug seizures.

“It is the only report of its kind in Australia and provides a unique overview of law enforcement drug seizures, purity levels, prices, arrests and trends,” Senator Johnston said.

“In the reporting period 2005–06, more than 78,500 people were arrested for drug related offences. In addition, Australian law enforcement agencies seized 6 tonnes of illicit drugs in more than 55,000 seizures. This included 4,482 kilograms of cannabis, 1,296 kilograms of amphetamine-type stimulants, 46 kilograms of cocaine and 29 kilograms of heroin.

“This is a commendable result by Australian law enforcement agencies and is evidence that the Australian Government’s National Drug Strategy is having a significant impact in the ongoing war on drugs.

“The report also confirms that cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug in Australia”, the Minister said.

“Keeping illicit drugs off the streets and arresting illicit drug manufacturers and traffickers remains a high priority for the Government”, the Minister said.

ACC Media Release

 

[lil angel15]

Seizure of speed, ecstasy, ice up 10-fold in a decade
Ben Doherty, Canberra
May 11, 2007

MORE than 1.8 tonnes of ecstasy and amphetamine-type stimulants — including the deadly drug ice — were seized by Australian authorities last financial year, a 10-fold increase on the figure of a decade ago.

In 1996-97, customs and Australian police forces seized 169 kilograms of amphetamine (speed), crystal methylamphetamine (ice) and MDMA (ecstasy).

But an Australian Crime Commission report, to be released this morning by Justice and Customs Minister David Johnston, shows that 1384 kilograms of amphetamine-type stimulants, and 435 kilograms of ecstasy, were discovered by authorities last financial year.

Over the same decade, the number of clandestine laboratories uncovered by police has jumped from 58 in 1996-97, to 390 in 2005-06, a 670 per cent increase. The figures reflect the booming popularity of ice, and other amphetamine-type drugs, in Australia.

While marijuana is still the most commonly consumed drug — nearly 4.5 tonnes were seized last year — ice is rapidly becoming the drug of choice for many users, now making up about 15 per cent of all drug arrests, up from about 4 per cent — 11,848 people were arrested on amphetamine-type stimulant and ecstasy charges in 2005-06.

The ACC report said: "The global shift towards amphetamine-type stimulants continued (over the past year), with an increasing trend towards the use and production of crystal methylamphetamine (ice). One in 10 Australians have tried methylamphetamines (speed and ice). There are approximately 102,600 regular users, 72,700 of whom are dependent on the drug."

Most of Australia's ice is produced domestically. The drug sells for between $80 and $100 for a "point", 0.1 grams.

Other powder amphetamines, such as speed, can be bought as cheaply as $20 a point.

But the recent restriction of pseudoephedrine medicines — previously available over the counter, their sale is now heavily regulated all over the country — is slowing local production, the report finds. Project Stop, an online recording system of pseudoephedrine sales given a trial in Queensland, has resulted in a 23 per cent decrease in the number of clandestine laboratories uncovered in that state. The project is now being rolled out across the country.

But the ACC has warned that restrictions placed on the sale of pseudoephedrine drugs could cause an outbreak of other crimes, such as identity fraud and armed robbery, as manufacturers attempt to source the precursor drug.

Senator Johnston told The Age authorities were winning the war on drugs. "This is a commendable result by Australian law enforcement agencies and is evidence that the Australian Government's National Drug Strategy is having a significant impact in the ongoing war on drugs," he said.

"Keeping illicit drugs off the streets and arresting illicit drug manufacturers and traffickers remains a high priority for the Government."

The AGE

 

[Splatt]

Decent reports, with some errors as expected. But decect for the Aussie government in most respects. Not too much BS, but a little.

 

[phase_dancer]

“A 23 percent drop in clandestine laboratory detections in Queensland, where the pilot for ‘Project Stop’ was conducted, testify to the success of this joint Australian Government /Pharmacy Guild of Australia initiative.

While I suppose this may be a reasonable measure of success, I wonder how many past lab detections were the result of purchases or associations with diverted pseudoephedrine. I mean, what if cooks were successfully importing pseudo, or obtaining less watched chemicals and manufacturing via different routes? Would they/could they slip under the radar?

I believe a more accurate measure of success will lie in future numbers of users and suppliers busted for meth or seeking rehab. If border seizures are deemed as successful as project stop, then ideally, we should see far less meth on the street.

 

[lil angel15]

Amount of illicit drugs seized 'halves'
May 11, 2007 - 12:39PM

The amount of illicit drugs seized in Australia has halved in 12 months, according to an Australian Crime Commission (ACC) report.

Federal Justice and Customs Minister David Johnston said the amount had decreased from 13 tonnes in 2004/05 to six tonnes in 2005/06, but the number of drug arrests had increased.

"We have more people arrested for less weight," Mr Johnson said.

"I think things are better now."

The number of illegal drug laboratories detected in Australia has stabilised, according to the ACC Illicit Drug Data 2005-06 report.

The report said cannabis accounted for about 70 per cent of all drug arrests in Australia, followed by amphetamines, for which arrests have increased to 15 per cent.

The number of heroin arrests has continued to decline and now accounts for less than three per cent of all drugs arrests in Australia, the report says.

SMH

 

[lil angel15]

Police warn of new 'super dope'
Keith Moor
May 11, 2007 12:00am


POLICE fear a new form of incredibly potent cannabis is destined to hit Australia.

Vietnamese criminal gangs in Canada have developed a sophisticated method of growing the plant indoors all year round.

It greatly increases both the yield and potency of the cannabis and drastically cuts back the growing time for each crop.

The latest criminal intelligence suggests Australian-based Vietnamese drug dealers have travelled to Canada to learn how to cultivate this new brand of highly addictive cannabis.

They are expected to use the knowledge to grow and sell it in Australia.

This new cannabis threat was revealed yesterday in the Australian Crime Commission's annual Illicit Drug Data Report.

The ACC report also revealed:

MORE than 2 million Australians have used amphetamines and about 5.5 million have tried cannabis.

AT least 100,000 ecstasy pills are popped every weekend in Australia.

AUSTRALIA still has the highest rate of ecstasy consumption per capita in the world.

TWENTY per cent of Australians aged 20-29 take ecstasy.

DRUG users told a national survey that heroin, amphetamines, ecstasy, cannabis and cocaine were easy or very easy to obtain in Australia.

ALMOST 79,000 people were arrested for drug offences in Australia during 2005-06.

RESTRICTIONS on the sale of cold and flu tablets in Australia are expected to lead to an increase in criminal gangs importing them so they can continue to use them to make amphetamines.

BIKIE gangs are major producers and distributors of amphetamines in Australia.

CRIME gangs are adding a cheap dietary supplement for arthritis sufferers to other chemicals to create a substance which looks like crystal methamphetamine (ice) and are selling it as ice.

Justice Minister David Johnston said the amount of illegal drugs seized had decreased from 13 tonnes in 2004-05 to six tonnes in 2005-06, but the number of drug arrests had increased.

"We have more people arrested for less weight," he said.

Courier Mail

 

[lil angel15]

POLICE fear a new form of incredibly potent cannabis is destined to hit Australia.

Vietnamese criminal gangs in Canada have developed a sophisticated method of growing the plant indoors all year round.

It greatly increases both the yield and potency of the cannabis and drastically cuts back the growing time for each crop.

Wow - Those criminal gangs in Canada sure are sophisticated.

 

[Chronik Fatigue]

NEWS: Asian gangs develop highly potent cannabis strain

POLICE fear a new form of incredibly potent cannabis is destined to hit Australia.

Vietnamese criminal gangs in Canada have developed a sophisticated method of growing the plant indoors year round.

It greatly increases both the yield and potency of the cannabis and cuts growing time.

Latest criminal intelligence suggests that Australia-based Vietnamese drug dealers have travelled to Canada to learn how to cultivate the highly addictive cannabis.

They are expected to use this knowledge to grow and sell it in Australia.

The new threat was revealed in the Australian Crime Commission's annual Illicit Drug Data Report.

Justice Minister David Johnston said the amount of illegal drugs seized had decreased from 13 tonnes in 2004-05 to six tonnes in 2005-06, but the number of drug arrests had increased.

"We have more people arrested for less weight,'' Mr Johnston said.

The report reveals that cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug in this country.

Cannabis arrests account for almost 70 per cent of drug arrests in Australia.

The number of detections of heroin in 2005-06, which reached 300, was the highest annual number on record.

But the weight of heroin detected at the Australian border (45.6kg) was the lowest since 1995-96.

Heroin arrests now account for fewer than 3 per cent of all drug arrests.

Australian Crime Commission chief executive Alastair Milroy said seven criminal syndicates in eastern Australia had recently been smashed.

He said criminals often changed the way they obtained amphetamines.

"Criminals change their methodology once barriers are put in place ... and there is a likelihood that criminals will try to source these products in Australia by either targeting transport of pseudoephedrine or warehouses,'' Mr Milroy said.

Authorities believed outlaw motorcycle gangs did not control all the amphetamine manufacturing and distribution in Australia, he said.

"The recent intelligence suggests that there's lots of what ... I think the Chinese call ant-style trafficking, where you have lots of people bringing in smaller amounts and that's to avoid detection,'' Gino Vumbaca, of the Australian National Council on Drugs, said on ABC Radio.

Frightening statistics
The report revealed:
* Two million Australians have used amphetamines and about 5.5million have tried cannabis
* At least 100,000 ecstasy pills are used every weekend in Australia
* Australia has the world's highest rate of ecstasy consumption
* Twenty per cent of Australians aged 20 to29take ecstasy
* Drug users told a national survey that heroin, amphetamines, ecstasy, cannabis and cocaine were easy or very easy to get
* Almost 79,000 people were arrested for drug offences in 2005-06

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21725965-421,00.html

8(

 

[xcidium]

8(

+1

Vietnamese criminal gangs in Canada have developed a sophisticated method of growing the plant indoors year round.

WTF are they talking about? Hydroponics? That's not exactly a new development in growing cannabis.

This article is very vague. They begin talking about "a new form of incredibly potent cannabis" and that's all they mention about it?