Pubdate: Sun, 02 Oct 2005
Source: Herald Sun (Australia)
Copyright: 2005 Herald and Weekly Times
Contact:  http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/187
Author: Nick Papps
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Australia (Australia)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

AUSSIE DRUGS WOE IN REPORT

CRIMINALS are growing 5000ha of marijuana in Australia every year, an 
area the size of 689 Melbourne Cricket Ground precincts, according to 
a US intelligence report.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) report, obtained by the 
Sunday Herald Sun under Freedom of Information, paints a grim picture 
of illegal drug use in Australia.

It says:

AUSTRALIA has one of the world's highest rates of ecstasy and 
methamphetamine abuse.

THERE are 200,000 heroin users in Australia.

ECSTASY manufacturers are using oil from the sassafras plant to make the drug.

COCAINE is being smuggled into Australia on flights from South 
America, and importation is set to rise, and

AD HOC state laws on precursor chemicals are hindering the fight 
against drug makers.

The DEA's Drug Situation Report for Australia said marijuana was our 
"most popular and most abused illicit drug" and named New South Wales 
and Queensland as "the primary growing areas for outdoor cultivation".

It said methamphetamine manufacturing was dominated by motorcycle 
gangs in Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia.

The report by the US Government's key drug-fighting agency, compiled 
in July, said the majority of cocaine was being smuggled into 
Australia "by couriers on flights originating in South America".

Once in Australia, cars and parcel post were used to send the drugs 
around the country.

South-East Asia is cited as the main source of heroin in Australia, 
with Sydney being the main point of entry through airports and 
shipping containers.

It said "recent information" indicated that criminal organisations 
from Greece, Poland and Vietnam were "involved in the cultivation of 
cannabis in Australia". 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake