have been on the rise in Australia, officials are confident that their efforts are making a difference.
Australian Border Authorities Seize Record Amount of Ketamine in 2023
Last year, Australian border authorities made a major bust, confiscating nearly 900 kilograms of ketamine. This sets a new national record for seizures of the psychedelic drug, raising concerns among officials about the growing presence of organized crime groups in the illicit drug trade.
The 882 kilograms of ketamine seized in 2023 is more than double the amount seized in 2022, according to a report from 9 News. The majority of the drug was imported into the country by sea, as revealed by testing of wastewater which showed a new high for ketamine levels.
The popularity of ketamine among Australian residents has also reached a record high, with the latest ACIC National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program report showing a spike in use in April 2023.
Major Ketamine Busts by Australian Authorities
Last summer, authorities discovered 84 kilograms of ketamine hidden inside the panels of two brand-new delivery vans on a ship bound for Sydney. Acting on a tip, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) boarded the ship in Melbourne and found 79 bags of ketamine hidden in the vans. The recipients of the illegal shipment were apprehended outside Sydney and three men were arrested and charged with importing a commercial quantity of controlled drugs.
In July 2023, AFP agents made the largest ketamine bust in Australian history after receiving a tip from Spanish authorities. They found 80 kilograms of the drug in an ocean-going cement shipment from Spain, leading to the discovery of an additional 14 kilograms at a nearby residence. Three men were arrested and charged in the record bust.
While most of the ketamine seized by authorities comes from ocean-going shipments, smaller quantities have also been found in passenger luggage. ABF agents routinely discover smaller amounts of the drug and arrest travelers suspected of importing it.
Recent Arrests and Seizures
In October 2023, a Taiwanese national was arrested at Brisbane International Airport after border officials found 250 grams of ketamine in his luggage. And just last week, an 18-year-old UK national was arrested in Sydney after 20 kilograms of ketamine were discovered in his luggage. He has been charged with importing commercial quantities of a controlled drug and has been denied bail.
Despite the increase in ketamine busts, officials remain confident that their efforts are making a difference in combating the illegal drug trade. “These criminal groups may think they’re being clever in the way they try to bring in these harmful substances, but they should know that the ABF is ready to respond,” said ABF Assistant Commissioner James Watson in a statement to Australian media.
