Mexican drug cartels are smuggling tonnes of methamphetamine into Australia, and North American producers are overtaking Southeast Asian countries as the largest suppliers of methamphetamine.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) confirmed this week that at least 70 per cent of Australia’s methamphetamine market now comes from Mexico, the United States and Canada.
AFP Commander Jared Taggart said methamphetamine is the second most widely used illicit drug in Australia, with Australians consuming about 10.5 tonnes a year.
“Australia is an attractive market for organized crime groups who exploit our people for huge profits,” Commander Taggart said on Saturday.
Since 2021, AFP seizures of Southeast Asian-produced methamphetamine in Australia have decreased significantly and accounted for less than 15 percent of total methamphetamine seized in 2023.
The Mexican Navy found 7,200 bottles of liquid labeled as mezcal that actually contained liquid methamphetamine bound for Australia in August last year (pictured).
Packages of seized methamphetamine and a handgun are displayed on an evidence table.
Commander Taggart said factors that may have contributed to Australia being a target country for North American-produced methamphetamine include cheaper wholesale prices and the complex concealment capabilities of Mexican cartels..
“In addition, the AFP and our global partners arrested and prosecuted key members of major Asian organized crime syndicates in October 2020 and January 2021,” he said.
In 2022-23, the AFP and its foreign counterparts prevented more than 23.6 tonnes of North American-produced methamphetamine from reaching Australian streets.
This included 4.36 tonnes seized in Australia.
In that same period, Australians consumed 10.5 tonnes of the drug, making it the second most consumed drug in the country, according to the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Programme.
Recent intelligence revealed that it was cheaper for organized crime gangs to import methamphetamine from North America than from Southeast Asia.
The production price of a kilogram of methamphetamine in Mexico was about $1,000, while in Myanmar prices could range between $3,000 and $5,000 for the same amount, authorities said.
“The AFP has a presence in 33 countries and works closely and collaboratively with our law enforcement partners in Southeast Asia and North America to disrupt methamphetamine trafficking at its source,” said Commander Taggart.
“We will continue to disrupt the criminal environment both onshore and offshore to ensure potentially deadly drugs do not enter the Australian community.”
Last August, Mexican soldiers confiscated a massive 10-ton shipment of liquid methamphetamine bound for Australia and found it in a container loaded with 7,200 bottles of clear liquid labeled as the Mexican alcohol mezcal.
The shipment of methamphetamine valued at hundreds of millions of dollars was found on a Liberian-flagged ship in the port of Manzanillo, on the Pacific coast.
According to shipping documents, the container was destined for Australia.
The Mexican Navy shows boxes of liquid methamphetamine hidden in tequila bottles seized in the port of Manzanillo
A massive shipment of liquid methamphetamine bound for Australia was found in a container loaded with 7,200 bottles of clear liquid labeled as mezcal alcohol (pictured).
The Mexican Navy, which has taken over customs duties at some ports, said the shipment contained 9.5 tons of liquid methamphetamine, although the dry weight of the drug once separated from the solution would be about 5,000 tons. 4 tons.
For free, confidential advice on alcohol and other drug treatment services, call the National Alcohol and Other Drugs Hotline on 1800 250 015.
Access free drug and alcohol counseling 24/7 online at counselingonline.org.au.
For information about drug and alcohol addiction treatment or support, visit Turningpoint.org.au.
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