❓ Dr. Walker questions the effectiveness and cost of border search areas established under the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Act 2023, given the reported increase in methamphetamine use. The Minister's response provides seizure data and clarifies operational costs.
AnsweredQoN 186Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
BORDER SEARCH AREAS
186. Hon Dr BRIAN WALKER to the minister representing the
Minister for Police:
I refer the minister to the
establishment of border search areas under the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Act
2023, which is now approaching its first anniversary, and I note the reported
rise of methamphetamine of 40 per cent in Western Australia over that period.
(1) Has any quantity of meth been seized in any of
those activated areas; and, if so, how much, where and when?
(2) If, as the
minister suggested in his answer to Hon Tjorn Sibma's question last
week, the only seizure to date has been
approximately five grams of cannabis, was that seizure the subject of a cannabis
intervention requirement under the ''minor
cannabis related offences'' detailed in part IIIA of the Misuse of Drugs
Act 1981 or did it lead to a prosecution? If it was the latter, why?
(3) What have been the
implementation and running costs for the border search areas since their
creation?
186. Hon Dr BRIAN WALKER to the minister representing the
Minister for Police:
I refer the minister to the
establishment of border search areas under the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Act
2023, which is now approaching its first anniversary, and I note the reported
rise of methamphetamine of 40 per cent in Western Australia over that period.
(1) Has any quantity of meth been seized in any of
those activated areas; and, if so, how much, where and when?
(2) If, as the
minister suggested in his answer to Hon Tjorn Sibma's question last
week, the only seizure to date has been
approximately five grams of cannabis, was that seizure the subject of a cannabis
intervention requirement under the ''minor
cannabis related offences'' detailed in part IIIA of the Misuse of Drugs
Act 1981 or did it lead to a prosecution? If it was the latter, why?
(3) What have been the
implementation and running costs for the border search areas since their
creation?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. The following answer has been provided to me by
the Minister for Police.
(1) As indicated
in the answer to Hon Tjorn Sibma's question, a series of operations has
been conducted using powers under the Misuse
of Drugs Amendment Act 2023 since they came into effect. These operations were based on intelligence and had the additional benefit of building
experience in the use of the powers. In addition to intercepting illicit drug
importation, operations of this nature are used by police to build intelligence
and shape the environment. Hence, arrests of individuals and seizures of drugs
might be effected in locations distant from the actual search areas and at
another time. In the current financial year, the Western Australia Police Force
has seized 314 kilograms of methylamphetamine and $22 million of cash from
crime organisations.
(2) The Perth Airport operation on 1 March 2024 that
resulted in the seizure of 0.8 grams of methylamphetamine and five grams
of cannabis was eligible for a cannabis intervention requirement.
(3) The costs of border search areas are funded as
part of the overall Western Australia Police Force operational budget.
Specific costs associated with the implementation of BSAs cannot, therefore, be
determined.
some notice of the question. The following answer has been provided to me by
the Minister for Police.
(1) As indicated
in the answer to Hon Tjorn Sibma's question, a series of operations has
been conducted using powers under the Misuse
of Drugs Amendment Act 2023 since they came into effect. These operations were based on intelligence and had the additional benefit of building
experience in the use of the powers. In addition to intercepting illicit drug
importation, operations of this nature are used by police to build intelligence
and shape the environment. Hence, arrests of individuals and seizures of drugs
might be effected in locations distant from the actual search areas and at
another time. In the current financial year, the Western Australia Police Force
has seized 314 kilograms of methylamphetamine and $22 million of cash from
crime organisations.
(2) The Perth Airport operation on 1 March 2024 that
resulted in the seizure of 0.8 grams of methylamphetamine and five grams
of cannabis was eligible for a cannabis intervention requirement.
(3) The costs of border search areas are funded as
part of the overall Western Australia Police Force operational budget.
Specific costs associated with the implementation of BSAs cannot, therefore, be
determined.
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