Australian Federal Police warn drug demand fuels gang violence

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett has called for a national conversation regarding the link between high drug demand and rising gang violence across the country. Barrett warned that an ‘insatiable appetite’ for illicit substances is driving organized crime networks that pose a growing threat to national security.

Recent surges in gang violence, particularly in Sydney, have resulted in shootings involving mistaken identity, where innocent people are killed. Barrett noted that criminal networks are evolving, utilizing artificial intelligence to evade law enforcement and exploiting trafficking routes through the Pacific to move cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, and illicit tobacco.

Addressing the issue as a national rather than a state-specific problem, the Commissioner emphasized that organized crime groups are often commodity agnostic, pursuing any product that yields high profits. The warnings align with discussions held at the Five Eyes Law Enforcement Group, where leaders noted the difficulty in garnering public attention for the dangers of illicit drug use.