Arrests skyrocket as kingpins target Top End DRUG TERRITORY

ARRESTS for use of cocaine, steroids and hallucinogens such as magic mushrooms and acid have skyrocketed by more than 600 per cent, according to the latest drug crime figures.

The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission report into the country’s ongoing drug issues revealed the Top End’s illicit substance problem remained significant.

Police seized 458g of cocaine, up from 303g the previous year and arrests relating to the drug increased from two to 14 in 2015-16 – a 600 per cent increase.

The cost of cocaine in Darwin remained the highest in the country, with the median price per gram ranging between $800 and $1000, about double to three times the price in other capital cities.

The report said the drug was likely imported from Colombia and Peru with an average purity of 76 per cent.

Darwin had the highest consumption of all capital cities for cocaine and MDMA.

Arrest for steroid possession rose by 614 per cent, with 50 arrests up from seven in 2014-15.

Steroid seizures increased from 481g in 2014-15 to 571g the next year.

Arrests for hallucinogens, which includes LSD, acid and magic mushrooms, jumped from one to seven – a 700 per cent jump.

Arrests relating to methamphetamine increased from 282 in 2014-15 to 484.

Police seized 30.8kg of the drug, nearly double the amount from the same period the previous year.

Despite the rise of cocaine and hallucinogens, cannabis remained the Territory’s big- gest drug, making up 74 per cent of seizures.

Drugs and Organised Crime Senior-Sergeant Mark Stringer said in the past three months police had charged 15 alleged dealers with trafficking meth, cocaine and heroin.

“Others have stepped up to fill the void. There is certainly a lot of other drugs out there but we continue to get good results,” he said.

“There is still a market there because certainly people still want their drugs.”

He said the majority of the alleged dealers charged were independent operators not attached to organised crime.

Northern Territory Commissioner of Police Reece Kershaw said the report was reflective of the determined response that NT police have applied to countering the illicit drug trade in the Northern Territory.