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191578
Tue, 06/28/2011 - 14:18
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http://m.oananews.org//node/191578
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234kg of cocaine seized in Vic last year
SYDNEY (AAP) - June 28 - Victoria accounted for almost 60 per cent of the cocaine seized by police across Australia last year, according to the Australian Crime Commission (ACC).
The ACC's Illicit Drug Data Report reveals that 233.64kg of cocaine was seized in the state during 2009/10, according to data from Victoria Police, the Australian Federal Police and Customs and Border Protection.
Ten per cent of all illicit drug seizures by weight in Victoria that year related to cocaine, the highest proportion reported by any state, the report said.
Cannabis was the most commonly seized drug nationally, accounting for 76 per cent of the total weight of seizures that year.
More than 7.8 tonnes of illicit drugs were seized nationally, a 41 per cent decrease compared with the previous year.
But national illicit drug-related arrests were the highest in a decade at 85,000, the report said.
ACC chief executive John Lawler said Australia was an attractive market for illicit drugs.
"Organised criminals can achieve profit mark-ups of more than 6100 per cent compared with the wholesale cocaine price in Mexico, which is the source country for much of the cocaine in Australia," he said.
"We consider the use of cocaine in Australia as directly supporting the ruthless Mexican cartels who are seeking this profit, and have been responsible for more than 35,000 murders since 2006.
"Illicit drug use can cause serious injury and disease, lead to unemployment, destroy relationships and damage families, and is a primary driver of organised criminal profit."
The ACC's Illicit Drug Data Report reveals that 233.64kg of cocaine was seized in the state during 2009/10, according to data from Victoria Police, the Australian Federal Police and Customs and Border Protection.
Ten per cent of all illicit drug seizures by weight in Victoria that year related to cocaine, the highest proportion reported by any state, the report said.
Cannabis was the most commonly seized drug nationally, accounting for 76 per cent of the total weight of seizures that year.
More than 7.8 tonnes of illicit drugs were seized nationally, a 41 per cent decrease compared with the previous year.
But national illicit drug-related arrests were the highest in a decade at 85,000, the report said.
ACC chief executive John Lawler said Australia was an attractive market for illicit drugs.
"Organised criminals can achieve profit mark-ups of more than 6100 per cent compared with the wholesale cocaine price in Mexico, which is the source country for much of the cocaine in Australia," he said.
"We consider the use of cocaine in Australia as directly supporting the ruthless Mexican cartels who are seeking this profit, and have been responsible for more than 35,000 murders since 2006.
"Illicit drug use can cause serious injury and disease, lead to unemployment, destroy relationships and damage families, and is a primary driver of organised criminal profit."
