Organised crime violence rises in Australia amid drug trade disputes

Organised crime violence is escalating in Australia, driven by rival networks competing for control of the lucrative illicit drug trade. Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner Krissy Barretts has called for a renewed discussion regarding the link between Australia’s high consumption of illicit drugs and the violence perpetrated by criminal organisations.

Recent violence in Sydney has included the shootings of university student Marco Tapia and Joshua Macdonald. These incidents follow a pattern of mistaken identity killings, with approximately eight people murdered in such cases since 2021. In response, NSW Premier Chris Minns has introduced new legislation aimed at curbing organised crime.

The transnational nature of these criminal activities was highlighted by the investigation into the murder of Lorenzo Lemalu, a suspected senior figure in the Sydney-based Coconut Cartel. Lemalu was allegedly shot and killed outside a restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Following an international investigation involving the AFP, Vietnamese authorities, and Samoan police, two men from New Zealand and Samoa have been charged with conspiracy to murder. They are accused of orchestrating the attack carried out by two other individuals in Vietnam. The case underscores the challenges of combating organised crime that operates across national boundaries.