New strike force to target ice supply

A specialist multi-agency team will target the supply and distribution of methylamphetamine in South Australia.

The new strike team would increase attention on the international supply of ice.

A specialist multi-agency team will target the supply and distribution of methylamphetamine in South Australia after major seizures, clandestine laboratory busts and waste-water monitoring high­lighted the state’s drug battle.

State and federal police yesterday said the Joint Agency Ice Strike Team would increase attention on the international supply chain and local drug networks.

Australian Federal Police commander Peter Sykora said South Australia was the first state to launch the team, after Adelaide was dubbed the ­nation’s “ice capital” in December 2017 when waste-water analysis for the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission showed soaring methylamphetamine use in the city.

The ACIC’s most recent waste-water report, released in October, showed a sharp drop in consumption in SA and Western Australia.

Ice use in the ACT, NSW, Tasmania and Victoria was “largely stable”. WA had the highest ­regional consumption levels. Darwin and Brisbane were the only areas where levels rose.

“We are going to start overseas. Whether it’s in Asia, whether it’s in Europe, whether it’s in the Americas, we’re going to start at the supply chains,’’ Commander Sykora said.