Northern Territory drug dealers net $1 billion

[garywmeyerhoff]

Anti-Drug Warriors in Australia’s outback were quiet yesterday after the startling revelation that $1 billion worth of illicit drugs was consumed in the Northern Territory over the past year.

 

The figures were leaked to the Northern Territory News by Police Commissioner Paul White.

 

White told the Northern Territory News that illicit drugs valued at more than $20 million have been seized by police in the Northern Territory during the financial year ending 30th June 2004.

 

The Darwin based drug user organisation the Network Against Prohibition (NAP) has estimated that Northern Territory Police intercept close to two percent of the illicit drugs destined for consumption in the Territory.

 

If the figures leaked by Paul White are correct, Territorians spent $1 billion on illicit drugs in the past year.

 

The leak has confirmed low morale within the NT Police Service whose officers are forced to implement the NAZI-like “drug house” legislation.

 

Margo Laughton, the 55-year-old Stolen Generation member and grandmother who was the first victim of the drug house laws is still incarcerated in the women’s section of the infamous Berrimah prison.

 

NAP spokesperson Gary Meyerhoff said “It is not possible to stop the consumption of illicit drugs in the Northern Territory, our government needs to embrace our thirst for illicit drugs for the benefit of the wider community.”

 

The NAP has called on the Northern Territory Labor Government to legalise all currently illicit drugs, tax dealers and use the revenue to address the severe poverty and inequality that exists in the Territory.

 

Meyerhoff said “The size of drug hauls will continue to grow each year as the population grows and as more and more Territorians reject alcohol and take up much safer but illicit drugs.”

 

“Whether or not you view the War on Drugs in the Northern Territory as a success depends on who you are. Some things are certain, there are now more people in Northern Territory jails than ever before, 86 per cent of whom are indigenous, there are more illicit drugs and more and more people using them.”

 

For more information call NAP on 0415 16 2525 (61 415 16 2525 from overseas), NT Police Media Spokesperson Sue Bradley on 0417 770 686 (61 417 770 686 from overseas) or see http://www.napnt.org

Edited June 13, 2004 by garywmeyerhoff

[WantDaChronic]

NAP spokesperson Gary Meyerhoff said ?It is not possible to stop the consumption of illicit drugs in the Northern Territory, our government needs to embrace our thirst for illicit drugs for the benefit of the wider community.?

 

great to see people in the upper class of australia having the same thirst as us :: AND relise it would help the community...

 

but if u ask me its 50 years to late, but better than never