Drug war likened to ‘whack a mole’, says AFP

AFP success in disrupting ice manufacturers in China has pushed the problem into neighbouring Myanmar.

The AFP has taken the fight against ice importation offshore, trying to intercept drugs before they reach Australia.

Australian Federal Police success in disrupting ice manufacturers and traffickers in China has pushed the problem into neighbouring Myanmar, with the drug fight being likened to a game of “whack a mole”.

Deputy commissioner Neil Gaughan yesterday said the AFP had taken the fight offshore, trying to intercept drugs before they reached Australia.

In a notable example of this strategy, the AFP has teamed up with China to target ice manufacturers and exporters in Taskforce Blaze.

“What that, however, has led to is a bit of a displacement effect,” Mr Gaughan told a Senate estimates hearing.

“Because of the success in China, we’re seeing less drugs from China come to Australia, and indeed the Chinese authorities are interdicting less drugs in China. We’ve seen a displacement into Myanmar, which is unfortunate.”

The Blaze taskforce has led to the seizure of 9.8 tonnes of methamphetamine in China and another 10.8 tonnes in Australia since November 2015.

Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission chief executive Michael Phelan confirmed growing concerns about Myanmar, saying the commission had observed “the exact same thing” as the AFP.

Demand for China’s high-purity ice had led to a reduction in Australian production, he said. Most ice was imported, however, there remained some “very significant laboratories” in Australia.

Home Affairs Department secretary Mike Pezzullo said agencies were working to­gether to ensure “you’re not simply trying to ­arrest your way out of the problem and you’re not playing this endless game of whack a mole that is ultimately self-defeating”.

Mr Gaughan said Australia was “working very closely with the Myanmar police service through our liaison officers there”. A single full-time AFP officer is stationed in Myanmar but the AFP has started using a “fly-in, fly-out” model to bring in extra resources as required.