Mexican Drug Cartels Dominate Meth Supply to Australia, Police Warn of Growing Threat
Police alerts that drug cartels from North America have surpassed Southeast Asia as the primary source of methamphetamine in Australia. Mexican gangs are intensifying their focus on the country, posing an escalating threat.
Drug cartels from North America have surpassed competitors in Southeast Asia to become the main source of methamphetamine in Australia, according to police. They have cautioned that Mexican gangs are now focusing more on supplying the country.
In the 2022-23 financial year, the Australian Federal Police, along with authorities from other countries, intercepted 23.6 tons of methamphetamine originating from North America and intended for the Australian market. This information was disclosed in a statement released by the AFP last week.
Product from Mexico, the United States, and Canada now accounts for over 70% of the meth found in Australia, according to police estimates. On the other hand, the amount of Southeast Asian meth seized in the country has dropped to less than 15%.
Police did not disclose the specific quantity coming from Mexico but cautioned that "Mexican cartels are showing a growing interest in Australia."
Australia continues to be a lucrative market for organized crime groups, who take advantage of our population to make significant profits, stated police commander Jared Taggart.
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, cannabis is still the most widely consumed illegal drug in the country. However, there has been a noticeable increase in the use of meth and amphetamine, especially among younger drug users.
A wastewater detection program led by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission projected meth to be Australia’s second most used drug.
Lucrative markets
For a long time, the majority of meth in the area has been produced by manufacturers in the Golden Triangle, a secluded jungle region where Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar share borders.
After being made, the substance is transported to other important economies in the area like Japan, New Zealand, and Australia. In these countries, law enforcement has been intercepting a steady flow of meth being smuggled in through more and more inventive methods.
In 2022, Hong Kong authorities prevented 1.8 tons of liquid meth disguised as coconut water from entering Australia. The next year, police seized 1.1 tons of meth hidden in shampoo products.
Taggart explained that the rise in Mexican imports is due to the cartels' ability to conceal their activities well and offer lower prices than their competitors.
A kilogram of wholesale meth from Mexico can be purchased for as low as 1,000 Australian dollars ($650), which is less than a third of the cost of Myanmar-produced meth, as reported by Australian police.
TOPSHOT - Thai policemen display packages of crystal methamphetamine before a press conference at the Narcotics Suppression Bureau in Bangkok on January 24, 2023. - More than a tonne of crystal meth was seized in less than a week, Thai police said Tuesday, after officers discovered some illicit stimulants hidden in tea and coffee bags. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP) (Photo by LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty Images)
Thai police officers presented a large amount of crystal methamphetamine at a press conference held at the Narcotics Suppression Bureau in Bangkok on January 24, 2023. The police reported seizing over a tonne of crystal meth within a week. They found hidden illicit stimulants inside tea and coffee bags during their operations.
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In addition, drugs from North America are now making their way to New Zealand, a neighboring country.
Last year, the New Zealand police made a significant seizure of methamphetamine, valued at $150 million, concealed in maple syrup jugs from Canada. The drugs were intended for distribution in New Zealand, Australia, and the surrounding Pacific region, as confirmed by the authorities.
According to Masood Karimipour, the regional representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Southeast Asian suppliers may recover from their recent loss of market share.
He mentioned that the overall meth supply from the Golden Triangle has not decreased, and Australia will remain a key target for organized crime groups in Asia. These groups have proven to be highly adaptable and diverse, leading to significantly low prices in certain areas of the region.
Editor's P/S:
The shift in the methamphetamine supply chain from Southeast Asia to North America is a concerning development, highlighting the evolving nature of the drug trade and the growing influence of Mexican cartels in the global market. The low prices offered by Mexican producers make their product highly competitive, posing a significant threat to traditional suppliers and raising concerns about increased availability and affordability of methamphetamine in Australia.
This shift also underscores the need for continued cooperation and intelligence sharing between law enforcement agencies in different regions. The ability of Mexican cartels to penetrate new markets and adapt their smuggling methods suggests that they are constantly finding ways to outsmart law enforcement. Enhanced transnational cooperation and coordinated efforts are crucial to disrupt the cartels' operations and prevent the further spread of methamphetamine in Australia and beyond.
