NCJ Number
224665
Date Published
June 2008
Length
132 pages
Annotation
This 2006-2007 report provides data of illicit drug trends in Australia and provides a brief analysis of those trends.
Abstract
Results indicate that the mail delivery system provides the majority of amphetamine-type stimulant (ATS) importations at the border; the significant amounts of ATS precursors are detected in the air cargo delivery; the clandestine laboratory detections decreased in 2006-2007 but remain significantly higher than a decade ago; and that ATS seizures increased by 25 percent. Cannabis remains the most widely used illicit drug; there were 627 detections of cannabis at the border; seeds were responsible for over half of all border detections; and 69 percent of all arrests were for cannabis offenses. Heroin border detections were the highest on record, and although the weight of heroin detections at the border increased by 79 percent, it remained the third lowest weight detected in the last decade. “Scatter” importations through the postal and air cargo accounted for the largest number of heroin and cocaine detections, and Southeast Asia remained the primary embarkation point of heroin. The national weight of heroin seizures increased by 190 percent; the total weight of cocaine detected at the border increased by over 600 percent, however, it was still lower than the peak detected weight recorded in 2001-2002; and more than half of the total weight of cocaine occurred in sea cargo shipments. There was a 68-percent increase in the number of cocaine seizures, and national cocaine arrests increased by over 75 percent. Border detections of anabolic agents and other selected hormones was highest since the peak in 2001-2002; ketamine border detection increased; steroid seizures increased by 62 percent; and tryptamine seizures were at lowest since 1997-1998. Data were collected from all State and territory police services, the Australia Federal Police (AFP), the Australian Customs Service, and the State and territory drug analytical laboratories. Figures, tables, and references