Cocaine charges surge in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, BOSCAR data shows

Cocaine offences have surged in Sydney’s eastern suburbs in recent months, causing a leading criminologist to question if there are enough disincentives for its mostly wealthy users.

Barely a day goes by in the courts of Sydney’s glitzy eastern suburbs where a professional and otherwise law-abiding citizen is not reprimanded for dealing or dabbling in cocaine.

And new statistics confirm what magistrates have repeatedly remarked upon – the issue is only worsening.

According to the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOSCAR), incidents of both cocaine dealing or trafficking in the local government area (LGA) of Waverley rose 45 per cent in the six months to June 2022.

In the same period, cocaine possession charges there grew 20 per cent.

Over the past five years, cocaine dealing in the area, which takes in Bondi and its surrounds, has risen by a steady 20 per cent.

Cocaine dealing offences rose 45 per cent in six months across Waverley. Picture: istock

Increasing cocaine offences in Waverley stands in contrast to its nearby LGAs of Woollahra and Randwick, where cocaine dealing offences mostly flatlined in the six months to June.

Cocaine possession crept up slightly in the former and dropped by 16 per cent in the latter.

Waverley LGA takes in Bondi Beach and its surrounds. Picture: Monique Harmer

The variation in figures among close suburbs was interesting to Associate Professor of Criminology at the University of Newcastle, Dr Xanthé Mallett.

She suspected it was a combination of targeted policing and a higher demand among Waverley’s suburbs.

As for the notable spike in the past six months, Dr Mallet said drug dealing was returning to its pre-Covid levels.

“I think it’ll be a surprise to people how many people are using cocaine in those suburbs in Sydney,” she said.

Criminologist Xanthe Mallett said the discrepancy between nearby suburbs was fascinating. Picture: Toby Zerna

“You’ve got to remember, as well, that coke is very expensive. All of it is imported. And wealthy suburbs are really the ones that can support these habits”.

“These rich individuals are looking for ways to kind of relax and have fun. Certainly, I’m not advocating for it, but it is such an expensive drug, so it’s natural to get this spike in the communities where it can be afforded”.

Dr Mallet said driving down cocaine use in these suburbs was difficult while many people busted for possession were getting more lenient sentences than users of other drugs, such as ice.

“It’s so embedded in the culture of these suburbs and then there’s not really any negative consequences of getting caught a lot of the time,” she said.

Dr Mallet said penalties for cocaine use did not appear to be as harsh as those for other drugs

In an Australian-first, the ACT government recently announced it will decriminalise the possession of small amounts of illicit drugs, including cocaine. It will issue fines instead of criminal charges, claiming current laws do not work.

Asked if NSW should follow suit, Dr Mallet said she was not sure that was the answer.

“You want to break down the supply networks, but equally, if somebody is caught with an illicit substance, there’s disincentive if they know they’re not going to receive a conviction,” she said. “Also, the demand is so high that as soon as you interrupt one network, another will fill its place.”

Examples of the prevalence of cocaine dealing in Waverley are seen regularly at Waverley Court.

In May, an eastern suburbs socialite pleaded guilty to commercial drug supply after her illegal operation was smashed by police in late 2021.

Alexandra Moss, of Rose Bay, was busted supplying 17L of gammabutyrolactane, or GBL, 624.8g of cocaine, and quantities of MDMA, methamphetamine and cannabis, as well as possessing methamphetamine and $1200 cash.

Her lawyer entered pleas of guilty on her behalf to large commercial drug supply; commercial drug supply; indictable drug supply; small drug supply and dealing with property crime proceeds in May.

Alexandra Moss was busted supplying cocaine, among other drugs.

And in January, a Mercedes salesman who sold cocaine on the side had his sentence slashed because a District Court judge decided it was an “unsophisticated” plot — and it had been 10 years since his last jail term for drugs.

Hakan Yildiz had been handed a 30-month jail term for drug supply after he was caught with more than 130g of cocaine in a dramatic arrest outside the eastern suburbs luxury car dealership where he worked.

Hakan Yildiz was a successful Mercedes salesman.

Yildiz had served only two months in Parklea Correctional Centre before Judge Dina Yehia upheld his appeal, allowing him to walk from jail on an 18-month intensive corrections order with 75 hours community service.

Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command (PAC) crime manager Detective Inspector Gretchen Atkins warned “those profiting from illicit activities and knowingly putting other people’s lives at risk” will be charged.

A Eastern Suburbs PAC spokeswoman said officers conduct proactive operations year-round to disrupt cocaine supply.

The role of proactive policing in these areas was important to note, according to BOSCAR reporting and insights manager Karen Freeman.

“More offences are often more indicative of concerted policing than a ‘drug hotspot’ or reflective of drug use or offending in a specific region,” Ms Freeman said.