I am pleased to present Report 25 of the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission’s National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program (the Program).
This report includes new data collected from December 2024 to October 2025. In August 2025 the Program covered 57% of the Australian population. Wastewater analysis continues to provide a clear, objective view of illicit drug consumption across Australia. These findings are critical to inform insights on, and responses to, Australia’s illicit drug markets which are supplied by serious
and organised crime (SOC) groups. The latest data shows consumption for some drugs monitored by the Program has increased, reinforcing that demand remains strong and that SOC groups continue to find ways to supply our markets, despite law enforcement disruption to their activity.
Australia’s major illicit drug markets continue to demonstrate sustained growth. In Year 9 of the Program, consumption of methylamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and 3,4-methylenedioxymethylamphetamine (MDMA) continued to increase, with a record combined weight of 26.8 tonnes consumed nationally between August 2024 and August 2025. This amounts to a 21 % combined increase from the previous year – with the following increases individually methylamphetamine 23%, cocaine 17%, MDMA 20%
and heroin 23%.
Importantly, this growth follows already significant increases across all four drug types as reported in the Program report released in August 2025. The record national methylamphetamine consumption is of concern given the significant community
harms the drug causes. We also have high per capita use of methylamphetamine in global terms, where in 2024 we ranked second highest compared with 33 other countries who participate in the Sewage Core Group Europe (SCORE), outlined in Section 3 of the report. Cocaine and heroin consumption was also at a record high.
The estimated street value of the methylamphetamine, cocaine, MDMA and heroin consumed between August 2024 and August 2025 also hit a record high at $14.3 billion. Methylamphetamine continued to account for the greatest proportion of the combined total at $11.05 billion (77%).
What is increasingly apparent is the resilience of these markets. SOC groups can operate across jurisdictions, commodities and supply chains with a level of cohesion and sophistication. Some SOC groups are leveraging existing importation and distribution pathways to move into higher demand, higher return commodities. This reflects a broader pattern of diversification, where the same groups are extending into new markets as opportunities emerge.
In environments such as this, coordination is critical. Wastewater data provides a shared evidence base that supports the alignment of priorities and a clearer focus on the groups contributing to the greatest harm. Its value is greatest when combined with other data and intelligence to build a comprehensive picture.
This report contributes to a shared understanding of the national threat environment and supports coordinated efforts to disrupt the groups causing harm in the Australian community.
Acknowledgements
I would like to acknowledge the valuable support and expertise of The University of Queensland and Adelaide University, which undertook the data collection and analysis underpinning this report, and the ACIC officers who contributed to the project.
Heather Cook
Chief Executive Officer
Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission
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