Cocaine
Key Points
• The total weight of cocaine detected at the border in 2006–07 increased by over 600
percent. However, it is still lower than the peak detected weight recorded in 2001–02.
• More than half of the total weight of cocaine detected at the Australian border occurred
in sea cargo shipments.
• ‘Scatter’ importations of cocaine in the postal stream continue to be the most frequently
detected method of importation.
• The total weight of cocaine seized nationally increased by approximately 1300 percent
compared with 2005–06. The number of seizures increased by 70 percent.
• In 2006–07, national cocaine arrests increased by over 75 percent.
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ILLICIT DRUG DATA REPORT 2006–07
Main Forms
Cocaine is a crystalline alkaloid powder produced from material found in the leaves of the
Erythroxylon coca plant, which is indigenous to South America (DEA, 2006).
Cocaine has similar qualities to amphetamine and is the most powerful stimulant derived from
a natural source (ONDCP, 2006). Historically, cocaine has been used in its pure chemical form,
cocaine hydrochloride. Previously used in medicine as a local anaesthetic, especially for the eyes,
nose and throat, cocaine is now widely used illicitly for its euphoric and stimulating effects. As a
central nervous stimulant, cocaine interferes with brain function, while releasing excessive levels
of dopamine (DEA, 2006).
While cocaine powder is most commonly inhaled into the nasal passages, it can also be injected,
smoked or ingested. When cocaine is consumed with alcohol, the human liver manufactures a
chemical called cocaethylene. This intensifies the euphoric effect, but increases the risk of sudden
death (NIDA, 2006).
‘Crack’ is a freebase, smokeable form of cocaine. It is produced by processing cocaine
hydrochloride with ammonia or sodium bicarbonate and water, which is then heated to remove
the hydrochloride base. The name ‘crack’ refers to the crackling sound that occurs when the rock
is heated and smoked (NIDA, 2005). ‘Crack’ cocaine is most prevalent in North America and is not
frequently encountered in Australia (UNODC, 2007).
International trends
The overall production of cocaine remained relatively stable at an estimated 984 metric tonnes
in 2006. A reduction in Colombian coca production in 2006 was offset by an increase in both
Bolivia and Peru. Despite the decrease, Columbia continues its dominance as the leading supplier
to the global cocaine market. In 2006, the combined illicit cultivation of coca bush for Bolivia,
Colombia and Peru remained static at 156,900 hectares (UNODC, 2007a).
In 2006–07, South American and international law enforcement agencies recorded significant
seizures of cocaine. This included a single Colombian detection of 27 tonnes in 2007. However,
increased detections have not significantly affected global supplies as syndicates remain
adaptive to law enforcement operations. Colombian syndicates have continued to use West
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61
African countries as transhipment points for the movement of multi-tonne quantities of
cocaine to Spain and Portugal for distribution in European markets. There is a continued trend
of detections in countries such as China, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) of
China, Cambodia and India, where cocaine has not, historically, been a drug of concern.
In Columbia, 2,157 cocaine processing laboratories were destroyed in 2006. This is an increase
of approximately 10 percent from 2005. In Peru, 684 cocaine processing laboratories were
destroyed in 2006. Statistics are not available for the preceding year (BINLEA, 2007).
After cannabis, cocaine remains one of the most frequently used illicit drugs in European
countries. Research indicates that the prevalence of cocaine use over any other illicit drug use is
highest amongst persons aged 15 to 34 years. An estimated 7.5 million people in this age group
have reported using cocaine at least once in their lifetime (EMCDDA, 2007).
There have also been an increasing number of reports of drug users in Europe using both heroin
and cocaine simultaneously, known amongst user groups as ‘speed-balling’ (EMCDDA, 2007a).
In such cases, cocaine is often used in order to reduce the withdrawal effects of heroin or to
enhance feelings of euphoria (EMCDDA, 2007).
Domestic trends
Australian border situation
In 2006–07, cocaine detections at the Australian border rose significantly in weight and remained
relatively constant in number when compared to 2005–06.
In 2006–07, 609.9 kilograms of cocaine was detected in comparison to a total of 83 kilograms in
2005–06, an increase of 635 percent. The weight detected in 2006–07 is significantly larger than those
detected from 2002–03 to 2005–06, however remains lower than the peak weight in 2001–02. The
number of detections decreased slightly from 376 in 2005–06 to 366 in 2006–07 (see Figure 19).
The increase in weight comes as a result of large detections in sea and air cargo. This included
three detections over 100 kilograms, two in sea cargo and one in air cargo during 2006–07.
Six kilograms was the maximum weight detected in the previous reporting period. Cocaine
imported via air passenger couriers and through ‘scatter importation’ methodologies (highfrequency but low-volume quantities) continues to be regularly detected (see Figures 20 and 21).
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ILLICIT DRUG DATA REPORT 2006–07
Figure 19: Number and weight of detections of cocaine at the Australian border, 1996–97 to
2006–07 (Source: Australian Customs Service)
1200
Weight
Number
700
600
500
800
400
600
300
400
Number
Weight (kg)
1000
200
200
100
2006–07
2005–06
2004–05
2003–04
2002–03
2001–02
2000–01
1999–2000
1998–99
1997–98
0
1996–97
0
Year
Figure 20: Number of detections of cocaine at the Australian border, as a proportion of total
detections, by method of importation, 2006–07 (Source: Australian Customs Service)
Air Cargo (16.9%)
Air Passenger/Crew (6.3%)
Parcels Post (75.7%)
Sea Cargo (1.1%)
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Figure 21: Weight of detections of cocaine at the Australian border, as a proportion of total
weight, by method of importation, 2006–07 (Source: Australian Customs Service)
Air Cargo (33.5%)
Air Passenger/Crew (4.8%)
Parcels Post (4.3%)
Sea Cargo (57.4%)
Significant border detections
Significant border detections of cocaine in 2006–07 included:
• 141 kilograms of cocaine originating from Chile was detected in air cargo, sent from Hong
Kong SAR of China to Sydney on 15 March 2007.
• 135 kilograms of cocaine was detected in a sea cargo consignment from Canada to Brisbane
on 08 September 2006.
• 35 kilograms of cocaine powder was detected in sea cargo from Mexico to Sydney on 15 May
2007.
• 10.9 kilograms of cocaine powder was detected on 19 October 2006, sent by air cargo from
Guyana to Sydney.
• 10 kilograms of cocaine was detected in a truck brake drum in air cargo, sent from the United
States of America (US) to Sydney on 16 May 2007.
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ILLICIT DRUG DATA REPORT 2006–07
Importation methods
Unlike 2005–06, there were detections of sea cargo importation of cocaine in 2006‑07. The
total weight of cocaine importations through sea cargo was 350 kilograms. A total of 204.2
kilograms of cocaine was detected via air cargo, 29.6 kilograms detected in the possession of air
passengers, and 26 kilograms in postal articles. There were 30 detections of cocaine weighing
over one kilogram (13 were detected in air cargo, 10 with air passengers, 4 in postal articles and 3
in sea cargo).
While Colombia has decreased coca production, this has been offset by increased cultivation in
Bolivia and Peru. This changing dynamic could have a number of effects, such as the potential for
new criminal networks to become established in Australia.
Canada has emerged as a transit point for cocaine entering Australia. In 2006–07, there was an
increase in seizures at the Australian border from Canada through syndicates that previously
imported MDMA or methylamphetamine. International reporting shows that increasing amounts
of cocaine are being seized in Asia, particularly China and India.
In 2006–07, West African organised crime networks continued to be involved in the importation
of cocaine into Australia via the postal, air cargo and passenger streams.
Embarkation points
Embarkation points of significant attempted cocaine importations (an aggregate detected
weight of cocaine of at least one kilogram) in 2006–07 were, in weight order, Chile, Canada,
Hong Kong SAR of China, Mexico, the US, Argentina, Brazil, Guyana, Thailand, Costa Rica, Nigeria,
Colombia, China, the United Arab Emirates, Peru, Germany and Venezuela.
Domestic market indicators
According to the 2004 National Drug Household Survey, the rate of reported recent cocaine use
(in the last 12 months) was low and stable at one percent. Lifetime use of cocaine also remained
moderately low at approximately five percent (AIHW, 2005). Research on drug use amongst
police detainees (incorporating surveys and urinalysis) in 2006 found only two percent tested
positive to cocaine (Mouzos et al., 2007).
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In Australia, injecting cocaine users were reported to also use heroin, cannabis, and
benzodiazepines (Kaye, 2007). Similar to trends in European countries, cocaine users in Australia
are also known to ‘speed-ball’ (EMCDDA, 2007). Non-injecting cocaine users were reported to use
methylamphetamine, cannabis and ecstasy (Kaye, 2007).
Generally it is believed that the majority of Australian cocaine users are from a section of the
population who rarely come to the attention of law enforcement agencies, making it difficult to
define the dynamics of the Australian cocaine market. As stated by Campbell (2001), this user
group includes:
• ‘culturally influenced’ users for whom cocaine symbolises success;
• action-oriented success seekers who use the drug for coping with variations of success;
• young people of high socio-economic status for parties and social occasions; and
• risk takers and stimulus seekers.
However, a study examining the characteristics and dynamics of cocaine supply and demand
in Sydney and Melbourne identified two distinct groups of cocaine users. While the first group
have similar traits to those described above, the second group of economically and socially
marginalised users, primarily located in Sydney, appear to be the highest users of cocaine in
Australia. This second group typically inject cocaine, often in conjunction with heroin and fund
their use through government benefits, sex work and drug dealing (Shearer et al., 2005). This
finding is supported by another study which reported higher levels of unemployment and lower
levels of education to be prevalent among cocaine injectors (Kaye, 2007).
Price
In 2006–07, cocaine was cheapest in New South Wales and South Australia, with prices starting
from $200 per gram. Both jurisdictions reported decreases in the starting price per gram from
2005–06, with New South Wales decreasing from $350 and South Australia from $250. The
starting price per gram in Victoria also decreased from $350 to $300. Western Australia reported
the highest upper level price of $500 per gram, an increase of $150 per gram from 2005–06.
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ILLICIT DRUG DATA REPORT 2006–07
Purity
Figure 22 illustrates the fluctuations in cocaine purity analysed in Australia since 2002. Due
to the infrequency of seizures analysed in some jurisdictions, only New South Wales, Victoria,
Queensland and Western Australia are shown in the chart. During this reporting period, median
purity levels ranged from 28.5 to 90 percent. Western Australia reported the highest purity levels
during the fourth quarter of 2006, at 90 percent. The spike in purity in Western Australia is the
result of analysis of one sample only and may not be indicative of general purity in the state
during that quarter.
Figure 22: Median purity of cocaine samples, 2002–03 to 2006–07
100
NSW
90
VIC
QLD
WA
80
Purity (%)
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
q2 2007
q1 2007
q4 2006
q3 2006
q2 2006
q1 2006
q4 2005
q3 2005
q2 2005
q1 2005
q4 2004
q3 2004
q2 2004
q1 2004
q4 2003
q3 2003
q2 2003
q1 2003
q4 2002
q3 2002
0
Quarter
Availability
According to a national study of injecting drug users in 2006, there was a lack of data from most
jurisdictions on the availability of cocaine. Of the responses obtained, users were primarily from
New South Wales. Within New South Wales, 71 percent of respondents described cocaine as ‘easy’
or ‘very easy’ to obtain (O’Brien et al., 2007). In a national study of regular ecstasy users, only 28
percent reported cocaine as ‘easy’ to obtain, with 41 percent reporting it to be ‘difficult’ to obtain
(Dunn et al., 2007).
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Seizures and arrests
Nationally, the number and weight of cocaine seizures in Australia increased dramatically
compared with 2005-06. There was a 70 percent increase in the number of seizures. The weight
of cocaine seizures increased by approximately 1,300 percent but remained lower than seizure
weights reported in 2001–02 (see Figure 23).
The most significant weight increases in cocaine seizures occurred in Queensland and New
South Wales (see Table 13). Cocaine seizures in New South Wales accounted for nearly 75
percent of the national total, up from 37.5 kilograms in 2005–06 to 481.1 kilograms in 2006–07.
Queensland experienced the largest percentage increase in seizure weight, up from 942 grams
in 2005–06 to 161.1 kilograms in 2006–07. Western Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital
Territory reported minor increases in the number of cocaine seizures.
Figure 23: National cocaine seizures, by weight and number, 1997–98 to 2006–07
Weight (kg)
1200
Number
1400
1200
1000
800
800
600
600
400
400
200
200
Year
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ILLICIT DRUG DATA REPORT 2006–07
2006–07
2005–06
2004–05
2003–04
2002–03
2001–02
2000–01
1999–2000
1998–99
0
1997–98
0
Number
Weight (kg)
1000
Table 13: Number, weight and percentage change of national cocaine seizures, 2005–­06 and 2006­–07
Number
State/territorya
Weight (grams)
2005–06
2006–07
% change
2005–06
2006–07
% change
NSW
507
920r
81.5r
37,452
481,060r
1184.5r
Vic
51
48r
-5.9r
3,698
4,196r
13.5r
Qld
79
153r
93.7r
942
161,081r
16999.9
SA
16
10
-37.5
2,425
80
-96.7
WA
33
39r
18.2r
1,513
187r
-87.6r
Tas
1
2
100.0
1
7
600.0
NT
3
3
0.0
5
26
420.0
ACT
7
9r
28.6r
26
1
-96.2
Total
697
1,184r
69.9r
46,062
646,638r
1303.8r
a. Includes seizures by state/territory police and AFP for which a valid seizure weight was recorded.
Table 14: Number and percentage change of national cocaine arrests, 2005–06 and 2006–07
Arrests
State/ territorya
2005–06
2006–07
% change
NSW
208
367r
76.4r
Vic
98
127
29.6
Qld
67
143r
113.4r
SA
14
11
-21.4
WA
3
42
1300.0
Tas
0
1
-
NT
1
1
0.0
ACT
5
7
40.0
Total
396
699r
76.5r
a. Includes arrests by state/territory police and AFP.
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Nationally, cocaine arrests increased by 77 percent compared to the previous reporting period.
The majority of cocaine arrests occurred in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. The
number of cocaine arrests increased in all jurisdictions with the exception of South Australia
and the Northern Territory. The most notable increases in cocaine arrests occurred in New South
Wales (76 percent), Queensland (113 percent) and Western Australia (1,300 percent) (see Table
14). Care should be exercised in comparing arrests in all states and territories due to the small
number of arrests in some jurisdictions.
National impact
The total weight of cocaine detected at the border increased from 83 kilograms in 2005–06 to
609.9 kilograms in 2006–07, an increase of 635 percent. However, this is still lower than figures
reported in 2001–02.
While Canada remains a key embarkation point for cocaine importations to Australia, a number
of countries including Nigeria and Germany have emerged as embarkation points. Canadian
organised crime groups, who were previously involved in MDMA or methylamphetamine
importation, have also been linked to an increase in cocaine detections.
‘Scatter’ importations of cocaine in the postal stream continue to be the most frequently
detected method of importation. More than half of the total weight of cocaine detected at the
Australian border occurred in sea cargo shipments. This is a significant shift in methodology from
the previous year where there were no detections of importations via sea cargo shipments.
Border detections of cocaine suggest that Sydney remains the major point of entry into Australia.
In 2006–07, a large sea cargo detection occurred in Queensland, which may indicate a change in
established trafficking routes.
The total weight of cocaine seized nationally in 2006–07 increased by approximately 1,300 percent.
Compared to 2005–06, the number of national cocaine seizures increased by 70 percent and cocaine
arrests increased by 77 percent. The most notable increases in arrests occurred in New South Wales,
Queensland and Western Australia. New South Wales and Queensland also experienced the largest
increases in percentage and weight of seizures and the largest single detections of cocaine at the
border. While New South Wales is likely to remain the predominant point of entry for cocaine into
Australia, these figures indicate Queensland is developing as a prominent entry point.
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ILLICIT DRUG DATA REPORT 2006–07
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