Surge in unclassified drug seizures

THE number of exotic and unclassified drug seizures in Tasmania has exploded, shows an Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission report.

The Illicit Drug Data Report for 2015-16 shows seizures of unclassified drugs increased 190 per cent in 2015-16, the biggest increase in Australia.

The drugs include synthetic substances, precursors, anaesthetics and pharmaceuticals and come as tablets, capsules, powders, sprays or smoking material.

The 171 seizures saw police net 3.5kg of unclassified drugs, up from less than 1kg the year before. As a result 395 arrests were made in Tasmania.

This was in line with a na- tional trend that saw a record 7741 unclassified drug seizures in 2015-16.

Synthetic drugs first exploded onto international drug markets in the mid-2000s with China being a major source.

The commission said the ability to purchase the drugs online had aided proliferation.

Tasmania saw 4.8kg of “amphetamine type stimulants” such as ice and ecstasy seized in 2015-16, down 34 per cent. But the number of arrests rose from 430 to 530.

Cannabis remained king in Tasmania with 195kg seized by police and 1452 arrests.

Tasmania Police acting Assistant Commissioner Robert Bonde said cannabis was a core focus of the force’s efforts to crack down on drugs.