The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) has released its latest wastewater report, revealing an increase in consumption of major illicit drugs in Australia.
Report 24 of the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program is based on data collected in August (from both capital city and regional sites) and October 2024 (from capital city sites only). Report 24 also includes data that allows for comparisons with previous years.
ACIC CEO Heather Cook said that serious and organised crime remains an enduring threat to Australia's national security and safety.
"Serious and organised crime groups exploit Australia's high demand for illicit drugs and are focused on maximising profit at the expense of the community's security and wellbeing," said Ms Cook.
The ACIC's latest wastewater report reveals that 22.2 tonnes of methylamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and MDMA was consumed from August 2023 to August 2024. This is a 34% increase from the previous year, driven by increases in consumption of methylamphetamine (21%), cocaine (69%), MDMA (49%) and heroin (14%).
This increase reflects, in part, the recovery of these illicit drug markets following the impact of COVID-19 restrictions. Transnational and domestic serious and organised crime groups have rapidly re-established and expanded their operations, taking advantage of increased demand and evolving trafficking methods to supply these highly profitable markets.
Ms Cook stated that the methylamphetamine, cocaine, MDMA and heroin had an estimated street value of $11.5 billion, with methylamphetamine accounting for $8.9 billion (78%).
"The 2.2 tonne increase in national meth consumption is concerning because 12.8 tonnes is the highest annual level recorded by the program and the drug causes significant community harm.
"Similarly, there has been a large increase in national cocaine consumption, also to the highest annual level recorded by our wastewater program," said Ms Cook.
The increasing diversity of illicit drug markets in Australia is underlined by increased consumption of heroin, which also reached the highest annual level recorded by the program. Since the program began, this is the first time that the three drugs have been consumed at record high annual levels simultaneously.
Annual data over the life of the program shows that the latest consumption figures reflect a continuation of the increasing trajectory recorded up until the COVID-19 pandemic for methylamphetamine, cocaine, MDMA and heroin. ACIC data modelling suggests that the increases in drug consumption for methylamphetamine, cocaine and MDMA are likely to continue to 2027, though most likely not at the same rate observed during the year ended August 2024. In the case of heroin, the ACIC assesses the market is unlikely to change significantly for the next 2 years.
"Wastewater data, when combined with other drugs-related information, helps the ACIC and our partners develop a comprehensive understanding of illicit drug markets. This combined data strongly indicates a concerning level of market growth, extending beyond the markets for illicit stimulants," said Ms Cook.
"This challenge can only be met though concerted and coordinated effort under the three pillars of the National Drug Strategy: demand reduction, supply reduction and harm reduction."
Law enforcement across Australia has a significant impact on supply, creating windows of opportunity for demand reduction strategies to have an effect. In 2023-24, the Australian Border Force and the Australian Federal Police seized 33.7 tonnes of illicit drugs and precursors at the border and across Australia. In the case of a number of major drugs, the quantities seized exceeded amounts consumed, hindering criminal networks' abilities to grow and expand their illicit activities further.
The ACIC is committed to collaborating with law enforcement, policy, regulatory and health agencies to inform the national response against illicit drugs. Wastewater analysis provides unique and actionable insights that help develop coordinated strategies targeting illicit drug markets.
Read the full report on the ACIC website.
ACIC MEDIA
