Australia will lead the global fight against the synthetic drug trade

SYDNEY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 (AUSTRALIA TODAY) – The Australian Federal Police (AFP) will lead a new international initiative to combat the trade in synthetic drugs and precursor chemicals worldwide as part of the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats.

Established in July 2023, the coalition unites 156 countries, including Australia, to tackle the growing global threat of synthetic drugs. The efforts include police, public health and policy initiatives aimed at curbing the spread of these hazardous substances.

As part of the initiative, AFP officials will coordinate a multinational effort to improve screening processes and disrupt key transit routes for illicit drugs and chemicals used in their manufacture. The AFP will also work with international law enforcement partners to identify vulnerabilities and strengthen disruption efforts.

AFP Deputy Commissioner David McLean stressed that Australia remains a prime target for organized crime due to the high prices people are willing to pay for illegal drugs. However, he emphasized that international cooperation in disrupting transit routes would bring global benefits.

“Our Asia Pacific region is a critical hub for criminal groups to obtain precursors and finished synthetic drugs before exporting them globally,” McLean said.

“The AFP is uniquely positioned to leverage our established international network to drive advanced intelligence collection and analysis, which will drive global collaboration to disrupt these activities in regions where we can have a tangible impact.”

McLean also noted the continued demand for methamphetamine in Australia and the growing threat posed by Nitazenes, a powerful synthetic opioid.

“Australia is at the end of the supply chain of these substances, and their widespread distribution in our communities is causing widespread harm, burdening the healthcare system and contributing to other crimes and financial inequality,” he said. “We share a common concern with our law enforcement partners to prevent countries from being exploited as production sites for synthetic drugs and chemical precursors or as hubs for global drug transportation.”

Australia has long supported law enforcement efforts in the Pacific, with more than 100 AFP officers stationed in the region to improve local policing capabilities and share information on criminal activity through the Pacific Transnational Crime Network.

Several of the AFP’s existing partnerships in Asia will serve as a framework for addressing issues as part of the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats.

The AFP is also actively involved in joint task forces with Cambodia, Thailand and China, which have successfully prevented tonnes of illicit drugs from entering Australia and disrupted illicit supply chains.

In addition, the Mekong-Australia Partnership on Transnational Crime (MAP-TNC) is helping countries in the Mekong sub-region tackle the challenges of transnational organized crime, including the trafficking of synthetic drugs.

Through its leadership and international cooperation, the AFP aims to make the Pacific one of the most challenging regions for organized crime groups to operate in, further strengthening the global fight against synthetic drugs….PACNEWS