recognised as one of the most valuable tools for law enforcement agencies, policy and decision makers, research bodies and other stakeholders in developing strategies to combat the threat posed by illicit drugs. It provides a statistical overview of illicit drug arrests and seizures as well as profiling the current situation, national impact and the emerging trends and threats of illicit drugs in Australia. ... This is the only report of its type in Australia and provides an important evidence base to assist decision-makers in developing strategies to combat the threat posed by illicit drugs.The report - fodder for journalists and criminology students - indicates that 9.3 tonnes of illicit drugs were seized nationally in 2010–11 (a 19% increase on the preceding year) and that the number of national illicit drug seizures also increased to 69,595 in 2010–11 (the highest reported in the last decade). There were 84 738 illicit drug related arrests, the second highest reported in the last decade.
The ACC claims that -
- National cannabis arrests have accounted for over two-thirds of all drug related arrests in the last decade. Cocaine related arrests have accounted for less than 1.5% of all illicit drug related arrests in the last decade. The number of ATS (excluding MDMA) detections at the Australian border increased by 60% in 2010–11 and is the highest recorded in the last decade.
- Cannabis remains the dominant illicit drug in Australia in terms of arrests, seizures and use. Cannabis and steroids both reported the highest number of arrests in the last decade.
- In 2010–11, Victoria continued to report the highest proportion of ATS and heroin and other opiod related arrests. In South Australia and the Northern Territory, over 90% of drug arrests were related to cannabis. In the Australian Capital Territory, 4% of all illicit drug arrests were related to cocaine, the highest proportion reported by any state or territory in 2010–11. In Tasmania, 23% of all illicit drug arrests were related to ‘other and unknown’, the highest proportion reported by any state or territory in 2010–11.
- Profiling of heroin seizures at the Australian border indicate that South-East Asia accounted for the greatest proportion of bulk weight analysed, increasing from 48.2% in 2009 to 93.3% in 2010.
- The weight of national heroin and other opioids seizures increased by 428% in 2010–11 and is the highest in the last decade. The weight of national cocaine seizures increased by 67.7% in 2010–11 and is the third highest recorded in the last decade.
- In 2010–11, a record 703 clandestine laboratories were detected in Australia, with Queensland continuing to report the highest number of detections.
