Up to 49 tons of illegal drugs imported to Australia prevented in 2022-23: authorities

Canberra [Australia], December 17: Authorities prevented almost 50 tons of illicit drugs from reaching Australia in the 2022-23 financial year (July 2022-June 2023), data has showed.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) said on Sunday that in collaboration with international law enforcement partners, it stopped up to 49 tons of harmful drugs from being illegally imported into the country in the 2022-23 fiscal year.
Of the total 49 tons of illicit drugs that were seized, AFP Commander of International Engagement Andrew Smith said more than 29 tons - or 59 percent - were methamphetamine, with cocaine and heroin also prominent.
"The AFP cannot overstate the amount of harm that 29 tons of methamphetamine could have caused to the community if it had not been intercepted by law enforcement," he said in a statement.
"On average, close to 12,000 Australians are hospitalised from methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin use every 12 months."
Among the AFP's international partners, those in Mexico recorded the largest seizures of drugs bound for Australia with 16.7 tons followed by Canada, the United States and New Zealand.
"The AFP is incredibly proud to collaborate with its international law enforcement partners, to stop transnational criminal syndicates profiting from these harmful drugs," Smith said.
In one case, AFP officers worked with the Turkish National Police on an operation that led to the arrest of more than 36 organized crime figures, at least 15 of whom had significant links to Australia.
Through Operation Quilt, a collaboration with the Hong Kong Police Force and Hong Kong Customs and Excise, the AFP seized 240 kg of methamphetamine before reaching Australia, and seized an additional 146 kg at a clandestine laboratory in Sydney.
Source: Xinhua