ACIC report shows Australia’s $12.4 billion drug habit

Aussies spent an estimated $12.4 billion on illicit drugs in the year to August, as wastewater analysis pinpoints the substance of choice for each region.

Sydney’s cocaine habit has been laid bare in a new criminal intelligence report that has analysed sewage facilities across the country.

The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission’s latest annual report on the country’s drug consumption also found meth remains the substance generating the most money for suppliers.

There were 16.5 tonnes of meth, cocaine, MDMA and heroin consumed in the country in the 12 months to August, the report found, at an estimated street value of $12.4 billion.

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That included four tonnes of cocaine, with just under half of that figure detected in NSW wastewaters.

The facility with the highest readings per capita for cocaine in the country was based in Sydney.

Data reveals the breakdown of how illicit drugs are consumed in each region. Picture: ACIC

Australians used 10.5 tonnes of methylamphetamine in the same period at a street value of $10.5 billion, with the largest consumption of that substance also coming from NSW.

“This is money laundered domestically and out of Australia to line the pockets of serious organised crime bosses offshore,” ACIC chief Heather Cook said.

NSW Police believe a series of alleged murders, shootings, kidnappings and other acts of violence in Sydney stem from battles to control the city’s lucrative drug markets.

Chief executive of the ACIC Heather Cook said the data was a tool for authorities. Picture: Supplied

In the other states, Victoria made up almost half of the nation’s heroin use which decreased overall by seven per cent.

Queensland had the highest use of cannabis, which can be obtained legally for medicinal purposes.

Cannabis was the most commonly used illicit substance in each state and territory.

Most methylamphetamine use was centred in regional areas while cocaine, MDMA and heroin were mostly capital city vices.

“The 1.5 tonne increase in national methylamphetamine consumption is of considerable concern, due to the significant community harms caused by the drug,” the ACIC said.

Total estimated consumption of the four illicit drugs focused on in the report rose by 2.3 tonnes on the previous year, or about 17 per cent.

Methylamphetamine outstripped all of the four illicit substances focused on. Picture: ACIC

The ACIC’s report issed a caveat that its samples covered about 57 per cent of the population and the drugs most consumed by Australians remained legal or medicinal.

“Throughout the life of the Program, national consumption of nicotine and alcohol far exceeded consumption of all other substances monitored,” it stated.

“Moreover, cannabis consumption has exceeded by some margin consumption of all other illicit drugs.”

Ms Cook said the wastewater analysis, combined with data from arrests and seizures, helped authorities co-ordinate strategies to improve community safety.

“We remain committed to working with domestic and international intelligence and law enforcement partners to identify and disrupt serious and organised criminal networks who continue to supply illicit drugs to Australian markets,” she said.