In a sweeping crackdown on illicit drug activity, police across Australia and New Zealand have apprehended more than 1,600 individuals. The operation, which spanned from August 19 to August 23, has been hailed as one of the largest of its kind, focusing on tackling the illicit drug trade and organized crime.
Authorities reported that Operation Vitreus led to 1,611 drug-related arrests during the week-long initiative. This collaborative effort involved all Australian state and territory police forces, federal agencies, and New Zealand Police. The operation also resulted in the seizure of narcotics with a total street value of 93 million Australian dollars (approximately US$62.9 million).
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In addition to the drug seizures, police executed 528 search warrants across both nations, leading to 2,692 drug-related charges. The operation also uncovered 71 firearms and over 2.2 million Australian dollars in cash.
The crackdown follows a concerning report from the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), which highlighted a significant increase in illicit drug consumption in Australia. The National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program’s latest report, released in July, revealed unprecedented levels of cocaine and methamphetamine use in both capital cities and regional areas.
Rising Diversity Of Illicit Drug
Katie Willis, acting executive director of Covert Collections and Insights at ACIC, expressed alarm over the rising diversity of illicit drug threats, particularly the emergence of nitazenes—potent synthetic opioids. “Nitazenes pose a greater threat to the Australian community than fentanyl,” Willis stated. “We have observed a rise in overdoses, some fatal, and links to serious and organized crime.”
Notable arrests during Operation Vitreus included a Canadian national apprehended by the Australian Federal Police for allegedly attempting to import 15 kilograms of methamphetamine through Sydney International Airport. In South Australia, a 26-year-old man faces charges for trafficking a large commercial quantity of controlled drugs after officers seized 1,100 doses of the hallucinogen lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD).
The success of Operation Vitreus underscores the ongoing commitment of law enforcement agencies in Australia and New Zealand to combatting the illicit drug trade and its associated criminal activities.
