The impact of illegal drugs, including ‘Ice’, is a national and international issue, and Tasmania is not immune to the problem.

The Australian Crime Commission reports that Amphetamine Type Stimulants (ATS) are the second most widely used illicit drug in Australia.* In Tasmania our focus is on high end dealers and importers; those people who bring illegal drugs into our state for distribution.

Tasmania Police employs an intelligence-based approach, to enable effective monitoring, interception and enforcement in relation to drug crimes.

“We work in partnership with other Australian jurisdictions to develop strategies to deal with drugs that are emerging at the national and international level, with significant success,” said Assistant Commissioner, Donna Adams.

Joint investigations between Tasmania Police, Australian Crime Commission, Australia Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Customs and the Border Protection Service have been undertaken during 2014. The most significant was Operation Electus:

• In July, a collaborative law enforcement operation disrupted a significant drug importation syndicate, with a number of arrests and the seizure of drugs in Tasmania with an estimated street value of at least $10 million. A further 4 kilograms was seized in Queensland and it will be alleged these drugs were destined for Tasmania. The syndicate is linked to the Rebels Outlaw Motorcycle Gang.

“Tasmania Police has a focus on Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs as part of our strategies, in particular the Rebels, as they are linked to the importation and distribution of drugs.

“One initiative is to work with the Liquor Licensing Commission to object to the issuing of liquor licenses to OMCG. These clubs use the sale of alcohol as part of their recruitment of young people and an attempt to gain social acceptance,” said Ms Adams.

“There is a cost and risk of being a member of, or associated with, an OMCG, and this risk becomes greater as law enforcement agencies set their sights on these groups.”

“Tasmania Police, in conjunction with our state and Commonwealth partner agencies, will continue to proactively investigate all reports of illicit drug manufacture and drug trafficking, and I encourage all members of the community to contribute to our fight against this drug and to report any known or suspected criminal activity to police, via Crime Stoppers.”

*The Australian Crime Commission 2012-13 Illicit Drug Data Report