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Australian state records spike in drug arrests after police blitz on "ice"

Xinhua, July 13, 2016 Adjust font size:

A police blitz in the Australian state of Tasmania has resulted in a major spike in the arrests of people using, or dealing, the drug methamphetamine also known as "ice."

According to a report released on Wednesday by the Illicit Drug Reporting System, the number of methamphetamine-related arrests in Tasmania jumped from 72 in 2013-14 to 383 in 2014-15, an increase of 430 percent in just one year.

The findings from the report revealed that the majority of those arrested, 266, were drug users, while 117 were dealers.

An annual survey conducted by the National Drug and Alcohol Research Center found methamphetamine was now the most commonly used injected drug in Tasmania.

Tasmania Police's acting assistant commissioner, Mark Mewis, said combatting the rise in "ice" had been a priority for the police force.

"One of the business priorities for Tasmania Police in 2014-15 in reducing crime was the targeting of serious drug offenders," Mewis told News Corp on Wednesday.

"That focus is reflected in the number of charges for serious drug offences and the increase in the amount of drugs seized over the period.

"The impact of illegal drugs on our community, including 'ice,' is a national and international issue, and Tasmania is not immune."

The use of ice among injecting drug users has been on a steady decline in the state, now at 72 percent, down from 95 percent in 2005.

However, Mewis said drug use was still a serious issue within the Tasmanian community.

"Whilst overall drug use in Tasmania does not appear to be increasing ... cannabis, followed by amphetamines are the most frequently used illicit drugs, which follows national trends," he said.

"This is not just an issue for police, it is an opportunity to take responsibility for the issue as a community to address the impact of drugs."

Despite the rising number of arrests, the report revealed that drug users found the crystal form of methamphetamines easy to acquire in Tasmania.

Cannabis, morphine and oxycodone were also readily available, according to the report. Endit