Victoria’s biggest drug hotspots revealed

THE appetite for hardcore illicit substances has reached unprecedented levels with entire suburbs or towns now hooked on dangerous drugs like ice. WHICH DRUG IS PREVALENT IN YOUR AREA?

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ICE cartels have infiltrated rural communities across Victoria and regional towns are now the frontline on the battle against drugs, according to one of the state’s top cops.

Assistant Commissioner Rick Nugent has revealed the appetite for hardcore illicit substances has reached unprecedented levels with entire towns now hooked on dangerous drugs including ice.

Major rural centres including Mildura, Wangaratta, Shepparton and Bendigo have been flagged as the new ice hotspots in the battle against ice.

Police investigations have uncovered evidence that rural areas are being targetted by criminal cartels and bikie gangs who have crude business plans aimed at getting entire communities hooked, within a matter of months.

“Far and above, what our members are saying is: drugs is a bigger issue than we have ever had,’’ Mr Nugent told the Herald Sun.

“Regional areas are definitely being impacted ... the harm caused by ice and illicit drugs is significant.’’

Crime data maps show Melbourne, Latrobe, Yarra, Shepparton, Baw Baw, Port Phillip, Maribyrnong, Hume, Dandenong, Brimbank became hot spots for ice and speed last year.

This compares to Melbourne’s CBD being the only hotspot in 2014.

So far the Andrews Government has provided $195.6 million under the Ice Action Plan launched in 2015, including a new Melbourne drug court and new rehab beds.

Minister for Mental Health, Martin Foley said the government was working on the issue.

“We are acutely aware of the challenges all communities face when it comes to ice — and we know we can’t arrest our way out of this problem,’’ he said.

“Ice has an impact on our emergency services, our hospitals — but most importantly has the potential to tear families apart.”

Shadow Minister for Mental Health Emma Kealy said not enough was being done to tackle the epidemic and slammed the Government’s plan as a dud.

“Lots of money is being spent but it’s not making a dent in the numbers of people and their families that are being destroyed by this insidious drug,’’ she said.

“It’s not just the lives that are being ruined, it’s the side effects like violent crime and aggravated burglaries which is impacting on tens of thousands of Victorians.”

Mr Nugent warned there were currently vulnerable communities in Victoria, including the Latrobe Valley as it deals with the fall out of the Hazelwood power station closure.

Attacks on regional communities by drug gangs has been frighteningly successful.

A typical case included a 29-year-old tradie, who owned his own successful business, began taking ice and became an addict within six months.

He is now facing 12 charges for burglary and drug crimes.

Mr Nugent warned similar stories were replicated across the state.

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CRIME HOTSPOTS BY DRUG TYPE 2016

Amphetamine — Melbourne, Moira, Loddon, Benalla, Latrobe, Port Phillip

Cannabis — Ararat, Latrobe, Melbourne, Northern Grampians, Moyne

Ecstasy — Melbourne, Moira

Heroin — Melbourne

Methamphetamine — Melbourne, Latrobe, Yarra, Shepparton, Baw Baw, Port Phillip, Maribyrnong, Hume, Dandenong, Brimbank

Problem drug towns in Victoria 2017

Mildura, Wangaratta, Shepparton, Ballarat and Bendigo