‘Making money off misery’: Police reveal Coffs drug dealers are hiking up prices amid rising demand

The city’s chief police officer reveals local dealers have turned to price gouging, while COVID-induced demand for drugs like ice has risen.

Coffs/Clarence Police District Crime Manager, Detective Chief Inspector Guy Flaherty.

The law of supply and demand is being felt in Coffs Harbour’s illegal drug market, with local dealers pushing up their prices amid the pandemic.

That’s according to Coffs Harbour’s chief police officer, who said covert drug operations and intelligence gathered over recent months has shown Coffs’ dealers are taking advantage of the rising demand for drugs – particularly ice – amid a COVID-induced drop in supply.

Border closures and the restriction of movement of drugs, as well as the chemicals to manufacture drugs, have been attributed to the reduced supply.

Coffs/Clarence Crime Manager, Detective Chief Inspector Guy Flaherty said police anticipate this price gouging will affect the circulation of illegal drugs within the community.

Det Insp Flaherty made the comments following drug raids which took place at eight homes in Coffs Harbour on Wednesday morning as part of a seven month investigation dubbed Strike Force Goodparla.

Det Insp Flaherty’s comments came after six people were arrested for alleged drug supply in Coffs Harbour.

Six people in total have since been arrested over the alleged large-scale supply of ice and cocaine through the Coffs region, and police have allegedly seized $400,000 worth of the drugs.

“Unfortunately, our intelligence also shows us that when you take out one set of drug dealers another will take their place,” he said.

“But this is a clear indication to the community that if you are involved in the use of drugs you need to consider where the drugs have come from. We’ve identified premises where drugs are made in acid.

“Drug dealers … leave themselves in a position to make money out of other people’s misery.”

Drug abuse in Coffs Harbour has re-emerged in headlines in recent months with shocking photos of drug paraphernalia in public toilets shared on social media, triggering community conversation on the issue.

Coffs Harbour business operator Nikki Williams shared disturbing photos of discarded needles and other drug paraphernalia in public toilets in the CBD earlier this year.

Coffs Harbour was also recently chosen as one of four locations in NSW to trial a two-year program allowing police to have greater powers in searching convicted drug offenders, their cars and their premises without a warrant.

The region was said to be an appropriate location for the pilot due to incidents of drug offending behaviour in the area, including the discovery of alleged supply rings and drug manufacture.

The recent issue of price gouging is however not isolated to Coffs Harbour. Surveys undertaken by the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) last year found that drug users in Australia’s capital cities were reporting a decline in availability of ice as well as heroin.

The NDARC surveyed over 1,600 regular drug users and 71 per cent reported a decline in ice, and 45 per cent in heroin since COVID-19 restrictions were introduced.

Around 25 per cent of the users said they were using the drugs less frequently, and prices had increased.

Researchers stated that major disruption to illegal drug supply may see increased treatment demand and called for greater investment in these services.