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The AFP can reveal that methamphetamine manufactured in North America has surpassed Southeast Asian countries as Australia’s largest supplier of the illicit drug, with Mexican cartels increasingly targeting Australia.

In the 2022-2023 financial year, the AFP and its foreign law enforcement partners seized more than 23.6 tonnes of North American-produced methamphetamine bound for the Australian market, including 4.36 tonnes of methamphetamine seized in Australia and 19.33 tonnes seized offshore.

North American-produced meth, from countries such as Mexico, United States and Canada, made up 16.7 tonnes of the meth seized.

The AFP estimates at least 70 per cent of Australia’s methamphetamine market is now supplied by North American production sources.

New AFP intelligence indicates wholesale methamphetamine is sold for as low as $1000 AUD per kilogram in Mexico City, Mexico compared to an average $3-5000 AUD per kilogram in Yangon, Myanmar, making it a cheaper alternative for organised crime groups.

AFP Commander Jared Taggart said methamphetamine was the second most consumed drug in Australia, with Australians consuming an estimated 10.5 tonnes per year.*

“Australia is an enticing market for organised crime groups who exploit our people to derive large profits,” Commander Taggart said.

“The AFP estimates that since 2021, our seizures of Southeast Asian-produced methamphetamine in Australia has decreased notably, accounting for less than 15 per cent of total methamphetamine seized in 2023.”

“Factors which may have contributed to Australia being a target country for North American-produced methamphetamine include cheaper wholesale prices, a preference by transnational serious and organised crime (TSOC) for Mexican cartels’ complex concealment capabilities, and Operation Ironside’s degradation of key TSOC syndicates’ domestic and global operations.

“Additionally, the AFP and our global partners have arrested and prosecuted key members of a significant Asian organised crime syndicates in October 2020 and January 2021.

“The AFP has a presence in 33 countries and works closely and collaboratively with our Southeast Asian and North American law enforcement partners to disrupt methamphetamine trafficking at the source.

“We will continue to disrupt the criminal environment both onshore and offshore to ensure life-threatening drugs are not entering the Australian community.”

CASE STUDIES

• In October 2022, 1.8 tonnes of liquid methamphetamine was identified in a consignment of coconut water in Hong Kong, exported from Mexico and bound for Australia. The drugs were identified based on intelligence developed by AFP officers in Mexico
• In February 2023, 1.1 tonnes of liquid methamphetamine was seized in 8.4 tonnes of shampoo departing Mexico City, destined for Sydney.
• In April 2023, Mexican authorities seized four tonnes of liquid methamphetamine concealed in bottles of tequila, destined for Brisbane. The seizure at the time was more than double the previous largest methamphetamine seizure destined for Australia.
• In July 2023, 2.5 tonnes of liquid methamphetamine concealed in artisanal mescal – an alcoholic beverage - was seized in Mexico, destined for Australia.
• In June 2023, six men were charged with attempting to importing six tonnes of liquid crystal methamphetamine from arriving in Australia in four separate ventures. Codenamed Operation Parkes, it is alleged the import was organised by a crime network in Canada.

* ACIC National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program, Report 21.

Note to media:

Media are encouraged to include help-seeking information in stories about illicit drugs to minimise any negative impact on people in the community. The following services provide people with access to support and information.

• For free and confidential advice about alcohol and other drug treatment services call the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015.
• Access free 24/7 drug and alcohol counselling online at counsellingonline.org.au.
• For information about drug and alcohol addiction treatment or support, go to turningpoint.org.au.