Drugs - Big Business !

Australia got a look at how sophisticated the criminal drug supply chain has become when the police busted a well oiled operation that they have been tracking for nine long years - and which has turned over hundreds of millions of profitable dollars during that time.

It helped that this international syndicate had managed to recruit an assistant director of the NSW Crime Commission who provided it's "eyes and ears " on what was happening in official circles.  It was very handy to have someone looking over the shoulder of the cops tasked with tracking down drug imports.

The supply operation was being run out of Holland and it was carefully constructed to seem above board.  Ecstacy was concealed in PVC piping or in fancy pots being imported by a legitimate plant nursery in Sydney and these passed through customs without incident.   The drug was then unpacked and transported to a self storage shed in the city.  Space was not a big requirement because Ecstacy pills are very small - and sell for $30 each.

What came next was a very sophisticated supply chain.   The importer had organized for "distributors " to move their product to the "pushers "who actually made the final sale at music venues or other outdoor events, and this was done in a rather blatant manner.

They devised a secret signal that told these distributors to drive their car or van to a rooftop car park in the city, leave their keys under the sun visor or in another agreed place - and go elsewhere for a cup of coffee or take a long walk.  A gang member would then drive that vehicle to the self storage facility, load it with the drugs and return it to the car park.  This whole transfer operation took just forty-five minutes.

The money laundering of profits was similarly sophisticated, and involved the use of Australian casinos.  Gambling delivers a mix of wins and losses and when the money is the result of crime the losses are simply part of the cost of doing business, and the wins are an effective way of obtaining a tax free reward.

Sadly, this bust has probably increased the risk of dangerous Ecstacy being sold on the streets of Sydney.  The product this gang were bringing into the country was professionally produced and met a consistent standard, and as a result the vast majority of it's customers suffered no ill effects.  The resulting supply interruption will certainly see the price hiked and no doubt all those backyard drug labs will go into overdrive to fill the gap - and their product can range widely in quality.

Of course, this drug operation being run out of Holland is not the only drug operation serving the Australian market.   We can expect it's competitors to step up use of whatever channels they have established and in the criminal world the downfall of any crime empire is simply an opportunity for those waiting in the wings to muscle in and establish their own operation.

Nothing really changes.  Drugs are subjected to the law of "supply and demand "- and while ever demand exists, supply will follow.     It is just a matter of who emerges as the next kingpin to become fabulously rich from the drug trade !