Mapped: Biggest Adelaide, South Australian drugs busts in 2024 – so far
Young South Australian adults are using more cocaine and hallucinogenic drugs, a top doctor says – as we map the dozens of drug busts in 2024.
Police & Courts
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Cocaine and hallucinogenic drug use is on the rise in young adults, a top South Australian doctor says, as SA Police becomes increasingly concerned about the rise of synthetic opioids.
Clinical psychologist and medical practitioner Dr Quentin Black said despite an overall drop in the use of illicit drugs from young adults since 2001, cocaine and hallucinogen consumption had risen considerably.
“As a group, young people aged 14-29 in 2022-2023 were less likely to have used an illicit drug in the previous 12 months than people of the same age in 2001,” Dr Black said.
“However, cocaine and methamphetamines, hallucinogens and alcohol are on the rise and continue to create significant disruption to people’s lives.
“Cocaine use among people in their 20s has increased steadily since 2001. Much of the rise in cocaine use among people in this age group occurred between 2016 and 2019 – from 6.9 per cent in 2016 to 12 per cent in 2019 where it remained stable in 2022–2023.
“Hallucinogen use among people in their 20s has increased steadily since 2001. Between 2016 and 2022–2023, hallucinogen use in this age group more than doubled – from 3.1 per cent in 2016 to 6.8 per cent in 2022–2023.”
Dr Black said the cost-of-living crisis had resulted in more people obtaining medical marijuana scripts but “opting to purchase on the illegal market” as a cheaper alternative.
The Advertiser has mapped nearly 40 major drug busts across metro Adelaide and regional South Australia this year, ranging from Salisbury and Ingle Farm to Henley Beach, Newton and Mansfield Park – SA’s second-largest cocaine bust on record.
This year also saw the largest marijuana bust at Adelaide Airport, when 26kg was found packed inside checked for a flight to Sydney.
In the 2023-24 financial year, SAPOL seized 40kg of meth, 4875 cannabis plants, 132.5L of fantasy, 80g of heroin and 42.5kg of cocaine. 40 clandestine labs were dismantled and 4004 cannabis expiation notices were delivered, its annual report revealed.
An SA Police spokesman said “due to their high potency”, novel synthetic opioids such as nitazenes were of particular concern – as were “drugs obtained through online sources, where the veracity of the drug manufacture and contents are unable to be verified”.
“While all illicit drugs are harmful, synthetic opioids are particularly dangerous and can lead to sedation, unconsciousness and death. These drugs can produce life-threatening toxic effects at very low doses,” he said.
“The way people access drugs is changing, and this is influenced by various factors including technology, online platforms and law enforcement.
“Those involved in the trafficking of illicit drugs are continually looking for new ways to operate, influenced by various factors. To combat this, as Operation Ironside has shown, law enforcement agencies are also looking for new and innovative ways to disrupt, disable and dismantle illicit drug networks.”
He said “drug enforcement efforts by law enforcement agencies are known to assist in reducing supply”.
Two Wells
A shed fire in Two Wells led to a police discovery of a hydroponics set-up and more than 150 cannabis plants.
Police and CFS crews were called to a shed fire just before 1pm on Sunday, November 17.
Officers searched the property and located more than 150 cannabis plants and 40 cuttings and prescribed hydroponic equipment.
Aldinga Beach
On November 18, officers swooped on an Aldinga Beach address and allegedly found drugs including GHB, methamphetamine, cannabis, vials of liquid steroid as well as mobile phones and $11,025 in cash.
Beverly
Police found 13kg of methamphetamine and 25 litres of 1,4-Butanediol – commonly known as fantasy – at Beverley on November 13.
Ingle Farm
Detectives from the Serious and Organised Crime Branch searched an Ingle Farm home on October 3 and found about 125gms of methamphetamine, 134 tablets of suboxone, $41,250 cash and three gel blaster firearms.
Following the search, the prohibited items were seized.
Henley Beach
Australian Federal Police officers uncovered more than $150,000 cash and 3kg of meth following a dawn raid at a Henley Beach home after infiltrating a secret communication platform called “Ghost”.
Police said investigations were ongoing and further arrests worldwide are expected.
Court documents allege the offences occurred across Adelaide’s north and west between March 20 and September 17 this year. AFP investigators, along with heavily armed SA Police STAR Group officers, also raided a North Plympton business along with two homes at West Lakes and Prospect.
The AFP said agents seized more than $250,000 in cash, at least 11kg of methamphetamine, more than 30kg of drug precursors, 40g of cocaine, 2g of ketamine and “encrypted criminal communications” alleged for “drug trafficking activities”.
Nearly 700 officers executed search warrants in four states and territories along with raids in Ireland, Italy, Sweden and Canada.
At least 50 alleged offenders have already been charged.
Adelaide
A random traffic stop on September 27 on Anzac Highway and search of a white Audi led to the discovery of a number of “deal bags” as well as a backpack, suspected to contain methamphetamine and cocaine.
Seacombe Gardens
Police, with the Dog Operations Unit, attended and searched a Seacombe Gardens address on July 8 where it is alleged officers found a commercial quantity of LSD, ecstasy, cannabis and prescription medication.
Adelaide Airport
Adelaide Airport’s largest cannabis bust uncovered 26kg of marijuana found packed inside bags checked on a flight from Adelaide to Sydney.
The drugs, with a street value of $650,000, had already been checked in for boarding before they were discovered by airport staff.
An AFP spokesman said airline staff raised the alarm on May 15, when one of the cases containing the cannabis broke open.
The bags had been checked in by a man on a domestic Virgin Airlines flight due to depart from Adelaide.
It is understood the sealed bags of cannabis had not been picked up by the airport’s X-ray machines.
Paralowie
Northern District CIB searched a Paralowie home and found 40kg of dried cannabis and $12,000 on June 25.
Police later linked that offending with both a Parafield Gardens bust in February and a discovery at Smithfield Plains address in April.
Police said 230 cannabis plants were found growing hydroponically at the two addresses.
Adelaide
A search of a hotel in Adelaide’s CBD led to the discovery of a huge stash of drugs, cash and weapons on March 27, police allege.
Authorities searched the two hotel rooms after a disturbance complaint and allegedly found a trafficable amount of methamphetamine, prescription drugs, drug paraphernalia, among other illegal items.
In another unrelated incident the week before, police allegedly found a quantity of white powder believed to be cocaine and MDMA pills after searching a group on an Adelaide street around 3am on a Friday.
Newton, Campbelltown, Gepps Cross and Klemzig
On March 8, detectives from the Serious and Organised Crime Branch and STAR Group officers stormed four properties across Adelaide where they allegedly discovered drugs and drug-making equipment.
Police found and seized a commercial-sized, clandestine drug laboratory at a Newton home and precursor chemicals and equipment used in clandestine drug laboratories inside two properties at Campbelltown and others at a Klemzig and Gepps Cross.
About 60g of methamphetamine was also found at one of the properties.
Mansfield Park
In what has been dubbed as the state’s second largest cocaine bust in history, SA Police discovered 139kg of cocaine hidden inside four luxury buses, while they were on a ship heading to SA.
On January 28 Australian Border Force officers intercepted a ship travelling from Singapore to Fremantle after receiving a tip off about a transnational criminal syndicate.
To stop the drugs from making it on to our streets, police swapped the real drugs with a fake substance, in an attempt to catch the dealers.
They tracked the drug packages as they were unloaded in Adelaide – still on the buses – and delivered to a Mansfield Park carpark in February.
The fake drugs were collected from the carpark and transferred to a Port Adelaide hotel room, where ABF and SA Police officers made the bust.
ABF officers said the drugs had an estimated street value of $45m.
Bowmans
On March 19, officers from the Serious and Organised Crime Branch searched a Bowmans house where they allegedly found 400 cannabis plants growing outside in an elaborate set-up.
Coorong
Almost 100 marijuana plants up to 3m high were seized from remote bushland across the Coorong close to the beach near Salt Creek on February 13.
In February, the Drug and Organised Crime Task Force, Water Operations Unit and National Parks and Wildlife teamed up to search the Crown land.
The search uncovered 98 cannabis plants at three growing sites, which authorities claimed had caused “considerable damage” to the natural vegetation by clearing space for the crops and negatively impacted the biodiversity of the area.
Elizabeth North
About 325 cannabis plants were allegedly uncovered inside an elaborate hydronic set-up at an Elizabeth North home on January 29.
Technicians from the office of the technical regulator raised the alarm after they discovered a large amount of electricity was being used at the property.
Gawler West
Cannabis was allegedly found at a Gawler West home after police searched the property in April.
Officers allege they found six large plants and an amount of dried cannabis.
Hilton
Police discovered 1.6kg of methamphetamine inside Hilton home in February.
Kidman Park
When police spotted Mercedes Benz in a Kidman Park driveway in March it was soon discovered it was allegedly stolen from Victoria.
They then searched the house and allegedly recovered suspected GHB and methamphetamine, among other items.
Loxton
On March 25, 15 cannabis plants, a huge stash of dried cannabis and drug paraphernalia were found in five different areas of a Loxton home, police allege.
The dried cannabis and drug paraphernalia were stashed in a workshop area inside the house.
Maslin Beach
In March police stopped a Ford Laser on Maslin Beach Rd, after checks revealed the car was unregistered and uninsured.
After searching the car, police found a homemade baton and a quantity of drugs.
Modbury North
Serious and Organised Crime Branch officers uncovered the massive haul of drugs and cash at a Modbury North home in April.
Around 520g of cocaine wrapped in black plastic, 130g of methamphetamine, 100 MDMA tablets and more than $100,000 worth of cash was seized.
Moonta Bay
After a secret tip-off, Kadina police searched a Moonta Bay house in March and allegedly found six cannabis plants and a small stash of dried cannabis outside.
Murray Bridge
On March 24, corrections officers from Mobilong Prison alerted police to a visitor who they believed was in possession of illicit drugs.
After an investigation, police allegedly found capsules and pills believed to be drugs.
In an unrelated incident later that afternoon, officers reported to police that substances believed to be illicit drugs and a glass pipe were found in a car.
Northfield and Yatala Prison
Police allegedly found 4g of suspected meth, drug paraphernalia including an ice pipe, $5500 in cash and packages containing 59 suboxone stripes during a search at Yatala Prison. Another search of a Northfield home allegedly uncovered 70 more suboxone strips, mobile phones, cannabis, a quantity of suspected methamphetamine and other drug paraphernalia.
Salisbury South
Police discovered a sophisticated drug operation after searching a warehouse in Salisbury South in January.
At the warehouse, 14 large cannabis plants, along with 50kg of dried cannabis packaged and ready for distribution were allegedly located by police.
Tailem Bend
A random traffic stop led to the discovery of one of the biggest busts of 2024.
Serious and Organised Crime Branch officers stopped a driver after a tip off about drug trafficking on a Thursday morning in January.
They allegedly uncovered 3kg of methamphetamine, 14g of cocaine and 4000 tablets of suspected ecstasy.
Tea Tree Gully
STAR Group officers and detectives stormed a Tea Tree Gully home on February 29 and allegedly found drugs, cash and weapons inside.
Police allege 35g of methamphetamine was found on the kitchen table and about 350ml of GBH was found inside a motor vehicle.
Riverland
Police swooped in on five properties in the Riverland over a four-day period in February leading to several drug-related arrests.
Officers from the Waikerie and Blanchetown stations searched the properties after receiving a tip-off from the public.
One hundred and fifteen cannabis plants, 1kg of dried cannabis and 50g of methamphetamine, among other illegal weapons and a stolen motorcycle, were seized by officers.
Renmark
In February, police raided a Renmark property and found a stash of illegal items and drugs.
Police allege 12g of a substance believed to be methamphetamine, paraphernalia related to drugs and drug dealing were found during the raid.
West Lakes
In January, police allegedly found a hydroponic set-up with 11 large cannabis plants being grown in the garage of a West Lakes home after a tip-off.
Wingfield
SA Police Heavy Vehicle Enforcement Unit officers were patrolling the Port River Expressway at Wingfield in January, when a car travelling at speed overtook them on the wrong side of the road, prompting a pursuit.
Police eventually stopped the car and a search uncovered about 20g of methamphetamine, along with other prohibited items. A search of a home allegedly found 60g of methamphetamine and 80g of fantasy.
Whyalla Norrie
Police found two large cannabis plants and 2.2kgs of dried cannabis being grown out the back of a Whyalla Norrie home after conducting a search in March.
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