5th May, 2006

More than 13.6 tonnes of illicit drugs were seized by Australian law enforcement in 2004-2005.

Released earlier this week, the Australian Crime Commission’s annual Illicit Drug Data report showed that cannabis - of which a total of 6,922 kg was seized - remains the most widely used illicit drug in Australia with cultivation “prolific” in all states.

“Cannabis-related arrests accounted for around 70 per cent of the total 77,333 drug-related arrests made...” said Alistair Milroy, chief executive of the commission.

The report also revealed there was an increasing trend in the use of crystal methylamphetamines - also known as ‘ice’ - among young recreational drug users.

More than 2,200 kgs of amphetamine-type stimulants were seized in 2004-2005 and 381 laboratories detected nationally, the majority of which were producing methylamphetamine.

Seizures of heroin increased to 194 kg - almost double the previous year’s figure but well below figures recorded prior to 2002-03 - and 191kg of cocaine was found while the world’s largest single detection of MDMA - also known as ‘ecstasy’ - was made when more than five million tablets were found to have been shipped from Italy in a container of tiles.

- DAVID ADAMS