Increase in drug labs busted by police

TWENTY-one clandestine drug labs were busted by Territory police last financial year, Police Commissioner Paul White said yesterday.

This was an increase of 15 on the previous year and Mr White said this reflected the increase in the illicit drug trade in the Territory.

“Amphetamines are the second most commonly seized drug in the Northern Territory, with 21 clandestine labs discovered in the Territory last year, compared with six the year before," he said. “Attacking this trade has to come on a number of fronts, including law enforcement, public information about suspicious activity, effective legislation, and the ability to stop the importation of chemicals used to manufacture amphetamines.”

Mr White said the production of illicit drugs knows no borders, therefore “global partnerships” are needed to combat the trade.

The need for collaboration is a key topic of discussion among 200 delegates from police, health, prosecution and the private sector attending from around Australia, Asia, Canada and America at the 9th National Chemical Diversion Congress in Darwin this week.

“The importation of methamphetamines, detection of clandestine labs, and reducing the supply of precursor chemicals will be on the agenda,” Mr White said.

“We are lucky to have attracted such high-profile speakers who have come from around the world to share their thoughts and experiences.”

Speakers from the US Drug Enforcement Administration, Hong Kong’s Customs and Excise Department, China’s National Narcotics Control Commission, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the Criminal Investigation Bureau of Guangdong Province in China are attending the congress.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Wed, 05 October 2005
Source: Northern Territory News (Australia)
Copyright: 2005 Northern Territory News
Contact: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au
Website: http://ntnews.news.com.au/