Aussies snort more than four tonnes of cocaine every year, a new report has revealed

The market for illicit drugs in Australia has grown higher than ever, and there’s one worrying substance in particular our nation can’t get enough of.

Australians are snorting more than 4.1 tons of cocaine every year, a new report has found.

Australians are snorting more than 4.1 tonnes of cocaine every year, according to a concerning new report.

The latest Illicit Drug Data Report, which compiles data from law enforcement agencies from 2017-2018, revealed a record 30.6 tonnes of illicit drugs were seized nationally during that period, with an estimated street value of $5 billion.

“Using data from the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program, the ACIC (Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission) estimates more than 4.1 tonnes of cocaine is consumed in Australia each year,” the report said.

Australians’ cocaine usage increased between 2013 and 2016 for both once-only and recent usage.

“The proportion of the Australian population aged 14 years or older who reported having used cocaine at least once in their lifetime increased from 8.1 per cent in 2013 to 9.0 per cent in 2016,” the report found. “The proportion of the Australian population aged 14 years or older who reported having recently used cocaine (in the past six months) increased from 2.1 per cent in 2013 to 2.5 per cent in 2016.”

The actual figure is probably even higher, considering the data relies on self-reporting.

Australians are snorting more than 4.1 tonnes of cocaine every year, according to a concerning new report.

The number of 12-17 year olds reporting to have used cocaine at least once in their lives remains at 2 per cent and the number that have used it in the past six months at 1 per cent.

“Nationally, the price for one gram of cocaine remained unchanged between 2016-17 and 2017-18, ranging between $200 and $600,” the report found.

“Nationally, the price of one kilogram of cocaine ranged between $100,000 and $300,000 in 2017-18, compared to a price range of between $180,000 and $300,000 in 2016-17.”

The report also suggests the availability of the drug is on the rise. A 2018 study of regular ecstasy users found that 64 per cent believed cocaine was “easy or very easy to obtain” compared with 55 per cent in 2017.

The main source of Australia’s cocaine supply was found to be Colombia, with more than 60 per cent of seized cocaine analysed by the Australian Federal Police coming from the Latin American country.

Cocaine is not the only drug worrying authorities. Methylamphetamine remains one of the most consumed and seized illicit drugs in Australia, the report revealed.

ACIC head Michael Phelam said organised criminals were at the centre of the country’s illicit drug market.

“The estimated street value of the weight of amphetamines, MDMA, cocaine and heroin seized nationally in 2017-18 is nearly $5 billion, underlining the size of the black economy that relates to illicit drugs alone,” Mr Phelan said.

“We know serious and organised crime groups continue to generate significant profits from the sale of illicit substances, with the price paid for illicit drugs in Australia among the highest in the world.”