Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08CANBERRA1102
2008-10-31 06:31:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Canberra
Cable title:  

AUSTRALIA 2008-2009 INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS

Tags:  SNAR AS 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0002
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBY #1102/01 3050631
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 310631Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY CANBERRA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0446
UNCLAS CANBERRA 001102

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR INL/AAE JOHN LYLE, AND EAP/ANP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA 2008-2009 INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS
CONTROL STRATEGY REPORT, PART I

REF: STATE 100989


I. Summary
--------------
Australia is a committed partner in international efforts to
combat illicit drugs. Domestically, Australian government
policies are designed to address fully both the law
enforcement needs and the demand reduction sides of the
problem. Australian law enforcement agencies work closely
with their U.S. counterparts in the U.S. and Australia, and
have a robust and growing law enforcement liaison
relationship in numerous overseas posts.

II. Status of Country
--------------
While cannabis is still the most abused drug in Australia,
the 2007 annual report of the United Nations International
Narcotics Control Board reported for a second year that
amphetamine type substances (ATS) are the second most widely
used illegal substance in Australia. The report also lists
ATS abuse in Australia as among the highest in the world.
Marijuana, crystal methamphetamine, cocaine, and MDMA usage
is constant throughout Australia. Significant seizures of
these drugs are of particular concern to Australian law
enforcement officials. Australian officials have seized
notable quantities of southeast and southwest Asian heroin in

2008. In November 2007, the Australian Federal Police (AFP)
reported that the drug harm index, their measurement of the
estimated damage seized drugs may have caused society had
they not been seized, had increased to A$621 million (US$391
million) in 2006/2007 from A$165 million (US$104 million) in
2005/2006.

Law enforcement agencies throughout Australia continue to
seize significant quantities of precursor chemicals from
China, India, and most recently, Thailand. In addition,
officials continue to seize small, toxic, and sophisticated
methamphetamine and MDMA clandestine laboratories throughout
Australia; although, the number of clandestine laboratories
has decreased slightly in 2008.

MDMA remains popular in Australia. According to the
Australian 2007 Ecstasy and Related Drugs Reporting System
(EDRS) report, MDMA is easy to obtain and purity ranges from
medium to fluctuating quality. Night clubs are the most
common places of use and prices range from A$30 - A$50 (US$19
- US$32) per pill. Substantial MDMA shipments originating
from Europe and Asia continue to be seized in Australia.

Cocaine use is stable throughout Australia, and for the most
part, is more prevalent in larger metropolitan areas. While

cocaine remains expensive in Australia, it also remains
readily available. Cocaine seizures are constant and the
majority of seizures involve the postal system and couriers
transporting small amounts, many of which continue to
originate in South America. In 2008, Australian authorities
seized hundred kilogram cocaine shipments from Canada, and in
March of 2008, a 250 kilogram shipment from China.

The availability of heroin in Australia remains steady and
although many prior users of heroin are reportedly using
crystal methamphetamine, recent local reporting indicates an
increase of heroin use in Australia's capital cities among
users who inject drugs. Health officials in Sydney and
Melbourne have reported an increase in heroin overdoses and
law enforcement and local news reports indicate heroin
trafficking and use is on the rise. Similar to cocaine, most
heroin seizures involve small amounts being transported by
courier and the postal system. However, law enforcement
authorities have also made some significant heroin seizures,
such as the two kilograms from New Delhi and 28 kilograms
from Indonesia in March 2008.

III. Country Actions Against Drugs In 2008
QIII. Country Actions Against Drugs In 2008
--------------
Policy Initiatives: The result of Australian Government
initiatives to address the increase of clandestine synthetic
drug laboratories is reflected in a slight decrease in the
number of laboratory seizures. Changes in legislation
limited the availability of pseudoephedrine, a precursor
chemical for methamphetamine. All products containing
pseudoephedrine are now stored behind the pharmacy counters,
and products with high concentrations of pseudoephedrine also
require a doctor's prescription. In response to this
legislation, many organized crime groups have undertaken
large scale smuggling of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine
products from locations throughout Asia, primarily China,
India, and Thailand. Australian law enforcement officials
have been successful in seizing record amounts of
pseudoephedrine in 2008.

In June 2007 the Australian Crime Commission (ACC),in
partnership with Health, State and Territory Drug Squads and
Industry Associations, commenced the "National Awareness
Raising Campaign for Chemical and Scientific Industries". The
objective of the program is to educate industry about the
diversion of chemicals and equipment into the illicit drug
manufacture market, new and proposed legislation and
regulations on controls over chemicals and equipment, and to
encourage compliance with the industry code of practice. The
program has served to foster closer working relations between
industry State based chemical diversion programs and the ACC.

The ACC also commenced the National Clan-Lab Database. This
program is designed to provide a user friendly, nationally
consistent platform for recording seizure information from
clandestine drug laboratories. The program operates from
laptop computers at the crime scene, and allows officers to
record all site information, exhibits, drug manufacture
methods, and a great deal of additional real time information
as the scene is processed. After processing, the seizure
information is uploaded to the national database from each
jurisdiction. The centralized collection of this information
allows law enforcement from all jurisdictions to access the
information and develop national statistical data for
investigative and management purposes.

The AFP's International Deployment Group continues to support
regional Asian governments to ensure stability and combat
drug and crime organizations. In addition, the AFP has
deployed additional resources to Afghanistan in support of
drug enforcement and intelligence operations. The AFP's
international network has grown slightly in 2008 to 87
officers at 34 posts in 28 countries worldwide. The AFP's
international liaison network coordinates closely with DEA
offices on matters of mutual interest.

Law Enforcement Efforts: Responsibility for counternarcotics
efforts is divided among the Federal Government, primarily
the AFP, the Australian Customs Service (ACS),the Australian
Crime Commission (ACC),and the Therapeutic Goods
Administration (TGA),in addition to state/territorial police
services. Australia also has a large and growing
international deployment of AFP overseas liaison officers
focusing on transnational crime, including international drug
trafficking. In 2008, Australian law enforcement officials
have successfully targeted significant drug trafficking
organizations impacting the country. Asian and European
organized crime groups (particularly from the Netherlands,
Belgium, Italy and Israel) are targeting Australia for
large-scale shipments of MDMA tablets. In June 2008,
subsequent to the seizure of approximately 4.4 tons of MDMA
tablets the previous year in Melbourne, the AFP conducted
enforcement operations and totally dismantled an
international MDMA trafficking organization. The
investigation revealed multiple criminal organizations with
international links involved in this import, the largest MDMA
shipment ever seized.

Asian organized crime groups continue to dominate the
distribution and trafficking of methamphetamine and to a
lesser extent, cocaine, MDMA, and heroin. Australian
authorities continued to seize substantial quantities of
these drugs. Local law enforcement reporting for the period
of 2006-2007 indicates ATS seizures increased by
approximately 25% and the number of arrests has increased by
28%. Total weight of cocaine seized by the ACS increased by
approximately 600% and arrests increased by 75%. And
finally, heroin border seizures are the highest recorded,
Qfinally, heroin border seizures are the highest recorded,
with the total weight of heroin seized at the border up 79 %.
These trends are continuing in 2008. For example, in
January 2008, authorities seized approximately 28 kilograms
of methamphetamine originating from Lithuania. In March
2008, authorities seized 250 kilograms of cocaine originating
from China and approximately 22 kilograms of methamphetamine
and 35 kilograms of MDMA in Perth. In June 2008, authorities
seized 124 kilograms of cocaine, 66 kilograms of
methamphetamine, and 121 kilograms of MDMA, all originating
from Canada. Asian organized crime groups are primarily
responsible for these imports and will continue to influence
and control the majority of drug trafficking activity and
related crimes in Australia.

Since domestically produced marijuana is Australia's most
abused illicit drug, authorities maintain a robust marijuana
eradication program, primarily on the state level. Australia
produces enough marijuana to satisfy demand, and the majority
of marijuana produced in Australia is distributed for local
consumption. Use of hydroponic grow sites is the preferred
method of the more advanced marijuana trafficking
organizations. However, authorities continue to seize
substantial numbers of marijuana plants from outdoor grows.

In March 2008, the New South Wales Police Force seized
approximately 11,000 marijuana plants from a single plot.
Most outdoor grow seizures consist of 70-100 plants spread
over multiple sites in close proximity. There are limited
instances of small amounts of Australian produced hydroponic
marijuana being transported to Asian nations.

Corruption: Historically, corruption and misconduct are not
issues at the federal level in Australia. Some misconduct
does occur at the state level and is vigorously investigated
by the appropriate authorities within Australia. All state
level agencies have internal units dedicated to investigating
alleged police corruption. In June 2008, an Assistant
Director of Investigations with the New South Wales Crime
Commission was arrested by the Australian Federal Police
after an 18 month investigation. The subject was charged for
his involvement in attempting to import a quantity of
pseudoephedrine into Australia. The arrest was widely
reported by the local media, and he is one of the most senior
law enforcement officials ever arrested and charged in
Australia. His case is currently pending before the courts.

Agreements and Treaties: The U.S. and Australia cooperate
extensively in law enforcement matters, including drug
prevention and prosecution, under a bilateral mutual legal
assistance treaty and an extradition treaty. In addition,
Australia is a party to the 1961 UN Single Convention, as
amended by the 1972 Protocol, the 1971 UN Convention on
Psychotropic Substances, the 1988 UN Drug Convention, the UN
Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the UN
Corruption Convention. Australia also is actively involved
in many international organizations that investigate drug
trafficking. Australia acts as co-chair of the Asia-Pacific
Group on money laundering, is a member of the Financial
Action Task Force, INTERPOL, the Heads of Narcotics Law
Enforcement Association (HONLEA),the International Narcotics
Control Board, the South Pacific Chiefs of Police, the
International Drug Enforcement Conference (IDEC) and the
Customs Cooperation Council among others.

Cultivation/Production: The licit cultivation and processing
of opium poppies in Australia is strictly confined to the
Australian state of Tasmania. Tasmania is considered one of
the world's most efficient producers of poppies with the
highest yield per hectare of any opiate producing country.
With an annual average licit opium production of
approximately 2.5 tons per hectare, Tasmania supplies around
one half of the world's legal medicinal opiate market. The
Australian poppy industry utilizes the Concentrated Poppy
Straw process, which processes the dry poppy plant material
'poppy straw' for use in the production of codeine and
thebaine. The Australian Federal Government and the
Tasmanian State Government share responsibility for control
of the poppy industry. During the growing and harvesting
season, crops are regularly monitored by the Poppy Advisory
and Control Board field officers and any illegal activity is
investigated by the Tasmania Police Poppy Task Force. The
export to the U.S. of Australia's narcotic raw material (NRM)
is regulated by the '80/20 rule' which reserves 80 percent of
the NRM market to traditional suppliers (India and Turkey)
while the remaining 20 percent is shared by non-traditional
suppliers (Australia, France, Hungary, Poland and currently,
Former Yugoslavia). There were approximately 1000 poppy
growing licenses granted for the 2006/2007 growing season in
which 13,000 hectares were under poppy cultivation.
Qwhich 13,000 hectares were under poppy cultivation.
Domestically produced marijuana (cannabis) continues to be
Australia's most abused illicit drug. Cannabis cultivation
and distribution is not dominated by any group and appears to
be organized on an individual basis. Sophisticated
hydroponic cultivation sites of various sizes have been
seized throughout the country. Use of hydroponic grow sites
continues to be the preferred method of the more advanced
marijuana trafficking organizations. There is still no
evidence indicating any large exportation of Australian
produced marijuana, but there have been instances of small
amounts of Australian-produced hydroponic marijuana being
transported to Asian nations for use by expatriate
communities in those countries.

Drug Flow/Transit: There has been no evidence regarding the
use of Australia as a flow transit point for illegal
narcotics.

Domestic Programs/Demand Reduction: The availability of
treatment services for drug users remains an integral part of
Australia's National Drug Strategy. There is a wide range of
treatment options available throughout Australia, including
detoxification, therapeutic communities, residential
facilities, outpatient treatment, day programs, and self-help
groups. As part of the "Tough on Drug Strategy" launched in
1997, the Australian government has committed substantial


resources to reducing the demand for illicit drugs throughout
the country. This strategy, coupled with the activities of
state/territorial agencies and non-governmental
organizations, is aimed at reducing the demand for all types
of drugs throughout the country. In 2001, the New South Wales
government approved a heroin injection room in the Kings
Cross area of Sydney. The Commonwealth of Australia
government has opposed the operation of these injection rooms
and is pursuing alternative harm reduction methods. To date,
this safe injection room remains in operation.

IV. U.S. Policy Initiatives and Programs

Bilateral and Multilateral Cooperation: The United States
undertakes a broad and vigorous program of counternarcotics
activities in Australia, enjoying close working relationships
with Australian counterparts at the policy making and working
levels. There is active collaboration in investigating,
disrupting, and dismantling international illicit drug
trafficking organizations. The United States and Australia
cooperate under the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding
that outlines these objectives. U. S. and Australian law
enforcement agencies also have agreements in place concerning
the conduct of bilateral investigations and the exchange of
intelligence information on narcotics traffickers. Both
countries continue to pursue closer relations, primarily in
the area of information sharing.

The Road Ahead: Australia continues to take a leadership
position in the international fight against drug trafficking
in its domestic, regional, and worldwide activities. The
expanded International Deployment Group allows them to have
greater participation in regional law and order activities
and stabilization efforts. Strong bilateral relations
between Australia and the U.S. on counternarcotics issues are
confidently expected to continue.

MCCALLUM