The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) provides mission critical intelligence to combat the threats Australia faces from transnational serious and organised crime (SOC). Our intelligence underpins efforts to tackle a problem that costs up to $60 billion per year. These persistent threats encompass a range of serious and organised crimes including the importation, cultivation, manufacture and trafficking of illicit drugs.
Fentanyl consumption measured in our National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program reflects both licit and illicit use. While it is true that fentanyl consumption increased from April to August 2023, we note that consumption is considerably lower than it was in December 2018, after which a series of controls were introduced over its use for licit purposes.
Traditional organised crime groups do not dominate the illicit fentanyl market in Australia, with many suppliers being opioid users or relatively low-level criminal entrepreneurs. This is because much of the market is supplied by diversion from the legitimate market or online purchases, rather than large illicit imports or domestic manufacture. Australian opioid markets are not large compared to that of cannabis and illicit stimulants including methylamphetamine and cocaine.
The concern with fentanyl and other synthetic opioids such as nitazenes is that they can be lethal in very small doses. Accordingly, the ACIC would be concerned at any suggestion that the illicit market for these substances is growing. We are working closely with state, territory, and Commonwealth partners to monitor indicators of any expansion in the demand for illicit fentanyl and other opioids.
ACIC spokesperson