Northern Territory pays more for cannabis in 2009–10

The Australian Crime Commission’s (ACC) Illicit Drug Data Report 2009–10 has revealed Northern Territorians pay up to $100 per gram for cannabis, compared with $20–50 in other states and territories.

“The report reveals Northern Territorians living in remote areas pay more for cannabis than those living in metropolitan areas,” ACC Chief Executive Officer John Lawler said.

“Illicit drug prices are influenced by availability, economic conditions and perceived market placement. Organised criminal groups use business models to recover the additional logistical and monetary costs associated with trafficking drugs to remote communities in the form of high prices for consumers.

“Cannabis has been the predominant illicit drug seized in Australia in the last decade. In 2009–10, cannabis accounted for 70 per cent of the total number and 76 per cent of the total weight of national illicit drug seizures,” Mr Lawler said.

The Northern Territory Police provided key data to the report, including information on illicit drug seizures and arrests. Northern Territory Police Commissioner, John McRoberts welcomed the report, which is the 8th edition produced by the ACC.

“Illicit drug use can cause serious injury and disease, lead to unemployment, destroy relationships and damage families, and is a primary driver of organised criminal profit,” Commissioner McRoberts said.

“This report assists us in understanding the market of drug trafficking and the criminals responsible, informing our efforts to address the drug trade into our remote areas.”

Mr Lawler launched the ACC’s Illicit Drug Data Report 2009–10 at the Royal Perth Hospital today with burns specialist Dr Fiona Wood and Western Australia Police Commissioner Karl O’Callaghan.

The data collected in the report is sourced from a variety of state and federal agencies, including Northern Territory Police, Northern Territory Forensic Laboratory, the Australian Federal Police and Customs and Border Protection.

A copy of the report is available at www.crimecommission.gov.au.

Key findings from Illicit Drug Data Report 2009–10:

• Over 85 000 illicit drug related arrests were made in 2009–10 — the highest in the last decade.
• Drug types that recorded the most substantial increase in arrests over the last decade are cocaine and amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS), increasing by 91 per cent and 58 per cent respectively.
• The 63 670 national illicit drug seizures in 2009–10 is the second highest reported in the last decade.
• Over 7.8 tonnes of illicit drugs were seized nationally in 2009–10.
• A record 694 clandestine laboratories were detected — an increase of 55 per cent from 2008–09 and 245 per cent since 2000–01.

Media enquiries
ACC Media team
Phone: 02 6243 6843
Mobile: 0409 603 637