NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research figures reveal Pyrmont as Sydney’s coke capital
NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research has revealed Sydney’s cocaine hot spots, with one shock suburb topping the list. Find out how your local area measures up. SEE THE INTERACTIVE FOR YOUR SUBURB.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Charges over alleged supply of 2.7kg of coke in Sydney’s inner west
- Two arrested after raids in Sydney related to huge cocaine haul
SYDNEY is officially the cocaine capital of Australia, with a former industrial area holding the dubious honour of being the city’s coke hotspot.
NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research figures reveal Pyrmont recorded the highest number of arrests for possession and/or use of cocaine from July 2017 to June 2018.
The popular entertainment destination — encompassing the Sydney Fish Market, Star casino complex and a number of restaurants, bars and nightclubs — had 166 cocaine related arrests.
Sydney’s city centre closely followed with 158 arrests during the same period.
Popular party districts Bondi and Surry Hills also rated highly with 106 and 105 arrests, respectively.
The neon-lit clubs and bars proved Kings Cross was still a draw card for cocaine users, with Potts Point recording 89 arrests for possession and/or use of cocaine.
The inner-city suburb of Darlinghurst was the hotspot for dealers of the Sydney’s cocaine trade, with 99 arrests made for dealing/trafficking of the highly addictive stimulant.
Sydney’s CBD closely followed with 91 arrests for dealing/trafficking of coke, while Surry Hills recorded 79.
The news comes as data from the 2018 Global Drug Survey revealed Australia was the most expensive country to buy cocaine, with the average price for the stimulant costing around $A300 — $A350 per gram.
MORE NEWS:
Sacked ABC boss told to ‘shoot’ political editor
Dally M count: Top five players at every club
Fourth person charged after teen ‘thrown off bridge’
More than 130,00 people from over 40 countries participated in the survey, which also revealed 13 per cent of participants from Australia claim to be able to have cocaine delivered in 30 minutes of less, while 53 per cent said they could organise same day delivery.
Earlier this year NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics director Don Weatherburn described Sydney’s cocaine usage as “frightening”.
“I wouldn’t use the word endemic, only because its use seem largely isolated to the city and eastern suburbs,” he told The Daily Telegraph.
“But it means there is a lot of cocaine around and that increases the profits of organised crime.”
See how your suburb measures up in the interactive below:
Journalist Matthew Dunn can be found on Facebook and Twitter. matthew.dunn2@news.com.au