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Record-breaking drug bust off NSW coast shows growing demand for cocaine

Author
Michael Sergel,
Publish Date
Tue, 7 Feb 2017, 5:45AM
About 1.4 tonnes of cocaine was seized from a yacht which was intercepted off the coast of Sydney. Photo/supplied

Record-breaking drug bust off NSW coast shows growing demand for cocaine

Author
Michael Sergel,
Publish Date
Tue, 7 Feb 2017, 5:45AM

A record-breaking cocaine haul off the coast of Australia may be a sign of a growing demand for the illicit drug.

LISTEN ABOVE: Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission boss Chris Dawson speaks to Mike Hosking

A New Zealand man has been arrested after 1.4 tonnes of cocaine were found on board his yacht off the east coast of Australia.

Customs officials allege he was travelling to New South Wales from a mothership in the Pacific Islands.

Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission chief executive Chris Dawson said New Zealand and Australia are working to halt the Pacific drug trade.

He said a trans-Tasman operation is underway to shut the trade down and sewage testing is helping authorities identify patterns of drug-taking.

"It's pleasing that these drugs are being seized, but of course very concerning that such quantities are being demanded."

Dawson said the cocaine haul is by far the largest in Australian history, and that the haul outstrips the amount that was seized in the last reporting year on record.

But Australian Drug Foundation researcher Julie Rae said this still only represents a small part of the global drug trade.

She said the seizure is a major achievement, but it needs to be put in perspective with other seizures around the world.

Much larger cocaine busts have previously been made in California, Panama and Columbia.

Rae suggests there's a growing trans-Tasman demand for cocaine.

"We need to really get to the root of why were taking drugs in the first place, because no one takes a drug to feel worse."

Rae said people need ways to improve their lives without resorting to illicit drugs.

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