Crime
This section provides information about cocaine-related crime (including arrests and trafficking), as well as Australian legislation regarding cocaine use.
The primary data source utilised in this section is the Australian Crime Commission's Illicit Drug Data Report 2020-21. This report contains illicit drug data collected annually by the Australian Crime Commission from state and territory police services, the Australian Federal Police, the Australian Customs and Border Protection Services, and forensic laboratories.
Given the small proportion of Australian youth who use cocaine, there is little reliable and meaningful data about this population group available. As a result, this section presents only one FAQ, drawn from the 2022-23 Australian Secondary School Students’ Alcohol and Drug (ASSAD) Survey (Cancer Council Victoria, 2024).
What are the legal penalties for using cocaine?
Cocaine is a controlled drug in Australia. According to the Poisons Standard, cocaine is a ‘Schedule 8’ drug.
It is against the law to be in possession of a Schedule 8 drug without a proper prescription. There are penalties for illegal possession, use, manufacture, importation, exportation, or sale of cocaine. It is also an offence to drive with cocaine present in body fluids or to drive under its influence. Penalties vary between jurisdictions, but may include fines, loss of demerit points, imprisonment, and disqualification from driving.
Some states and territories have police or court diversion programs, which refer people who have been apprehended with small quantities of illicit drugs to treatment/education programs, rather than going through the criminal justice system.
How many cocaine arrests are made each year in Australia?
In 2020-21, there were 5,958 arrests related to cocaine in Australia. Of these, 73% were consumer arrests and 27% were provider arrests.
Source: Australian Crime Commission (2023). Illicit Drug Data Report 2020-21.
Consumer Arrests: The Australian Crime Commission differentiates between people who have been apprehended for trading in, as opposed to using, illicit drugs. Those charged with user-type offences (possessing or administering drugs for their own use) are classified as consumers.
Provider Arrests: The Australian Crime Commission differentiates between people who have been apprehended for trading in, as opposed to using, illicit drugs. Those charged with supply-type offences (importation, trafficking, selling, cultivation and manufacture) are classified as providers.
How much cocaine is seized by police each year in Australia?
In 2020-21, there were 6,452 cocaine seizures in Australia, weighing a total of 4,421 kilograms. The weight of cocaine seized more than doubled since the last reporting period, increasing 181% from 1,574 kilograms in 2019–20.
Source: Australian Crime Commission (2023). Illicit Drug Data Report 2020-21.
How much cocaine is trafficked each year in Australia?
In 2020-21 there were 2,169 cocaine border detections in Australia. This amounted to a total weight of 2,576 kilograms, more than double the previous record weight in 2016–17 (1,110 kilograms).
Source: Australian Crime Commission (2023). Illicit Drug Data Report 2020-21.