Pubdate: Tue, 28 Jun 2011 Source: Age, The (Australia) Copyright: 2011 The Age Company Ltd Contact: http://www.theage.com.au/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5 Authors: Nick McKenzie and Maris Beck DRUG ARRESTS UP, BUT SUPPLY STAYS STRONG POLICE in Australia made more drug-related arrests and detected more clandestine amphetamine laboratories in the last financial year than at any other time in the past decade. But the quantity of drugs seized was 41 per cent lower than in the previous year - leaving open the possibility that overall supply and demand remain largely unaffected by law enforcement. Australian Crime Commission statistics, to be released today, show drug-related arrests across Australia in 2009-10 reached a decade-high of 85,252. Advertisement: Story continues below The data, compiled from state police, federal police and border protection statistics, show that last year's arrests were partly boosted by those linked to cocaine, which soared 46.7 per cent from the previous year. There was a big increase in cocaine-user arrests nationally, while cocaine-provider arrests increased more modestly. The report also suggests that vast quantities of illicit drugs continue to flow freely over the nation's borders, a point highlighted a fortnight ago by a joint parliamentary committee that called for an overhaul of policing of Australia's ports. Commission chief executive John Lawler told The Age : ''The reality is that illicit drugs are getting into Australia undetected.'' The 7.8 tonnes of drugs seized in 2009-10 was significantly less than in the year before, when slightly fewer arrests were made for drug-related crimes. The weight of seized cocaine fell by one-third and heroin by 49 per cent. The total weight seized was also lower than the decade's median. The report said fluctuations in the weight of seizures probably reflected ''the effect of unusually large seizures''. The report also stated that: * 59 per cent of all confiscated cocaine was seized in Victoria. * Only 196 people were arrested in Victoria for cocaine-related offences, while authorities in New South Wales arrested 728.New South Wales recorded the greatest rise in cocaine-related arrests, with 53.6 per cent more in 2009-10 than in the previous year. * Mexico is still the primary reported source country for cocaine arriving in Australia, but the report says Peru is increasing in prominence. * Most of last year's arrests and seizures were marijuana-related, with 70 per cent of drug seizures involving cannabis. The drug accounts for 76 per cent of the total weight of all drugs seized in Australia in 2009-10. * 694 clandestine drug laboratories were detected across Australia last year, an increase of 55 per cent from 2008-09 and 245 per cent since 2000-2001. But arrests for amphetamine-type stimulants dropped 15 per cent in 2009-10 compared to the year before. * More steroids were seized in Australia than ever before. Mr Lawler said it was hard to draw any simple conclusions from the report, but stressed that it underlined the need to continue focusing not only on supply and demand reduction but also on ''harm reduction''. Harm reduction strategies, such as the provision of sterile needles or other public health programs, aim to minimise the impacts of drugs on individuals, families and communities. Mr Lawler said that the preparedness of some Australians to pay a premium price for illicit drugs meant overseas suppliers would continue to target the domestic market. ''We are a very affluent, wealthy society and we are a society that clearly has an appetite for illicit drugs that causes huge damage to the community,'' Mr Lawler said. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.