NEW DATA CENTRE TO AID IN FIGHT AGAINST ILLICIT DRUGS
18 February 2010
Minister for Home Affairs, Brendan O’Connor, today launched the first Australian Illicit Drug Data Centre (AIDDC) in Sydney, NSW.
The Centre will help the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and other law enforcement agencies in their fight against illicit drugs by boosting intelligence about the drug supply chain in Australia.
“The Australian Government has provided funding of more than $7.6 million over four years through the Proceeds of Crime Act to enable the AFP to establish the AIDCC.” Mr O’Connor said.
“The new Drug Data Centre will provide a means to collect and analyse scientific data relating to the purity, method of production and likely origin of illicit drugs. This will help police develop a more comprehensive intelligence database which tracks illicit drugs along the entire supply chain, from the source country to the street. This will in turn, provide vital information in the identification and prosecution of the criminals involved.’
“The Drug Data Centre will also provide information which will assist in the development of national policies to combat the manufacturing and supply of illicit drugs in Australia.
“The new Drug Data Centre will produce two new projects known as the Enhanced National Intelligence Picture on Illicit Drugs (ENIPID) and the National Drug Precursor Risk Assessment Capability (NDPRAC) to guide its work.
“This information will help both Federal and State police clarify links and drug supply chains between organised criminal groups operating across Australia.
“It is fitting that the Drug Data Centre will be funded from the proceeds of crime—effectively using money seized from criminal enterprises to combat the serious criminal trade it came from.
“This further demonstrates the Australian Government’s focus on combating organised crime and illicit drug activity.
“Illegal drugs can destroy families and lives and it is estimated that organised crime costs Australia in excess of $10 billion every year.
“The launch of the AIDDC demonstrates that we are able to combine the resources we need with an enhanced level of cooperation between agencies, to combat criminal operations seeking to exploit vulnerable members of our community,” Mr O’Connor said.
Media Contact: Brian Humphreys 0438 595 567
