Australia

Australia Sees a Surge in Opium Imports. Is It a Comeback?

Published

11 months ago

December 27, 2023

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Summary: Australia has witnessed a significant increase in opium imports, with more than double the amount seized in 2023 compared to 2022. This surge suggests a potential comeback of the ancient drug in the country, with concerns about its use in modern opium dens.

Rising Opium Imports in Australia: A Sign of the Drug’s Comeback

Opium, one of Australia’s oldest imported drugs, has seen a resurgence in recent times. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) seized over double the amount of opium in 2023 compared to 2022, and almost six times the amount seized in 2021. The AFP cannot rule out the possibility of users frequenting modern opium dens to buy and consume the drug.

Paula Hudson, the AFP’s acting assistant commissioner, acknowledges the historical context of opium use but emphasizes the need for law enforcement to avoid focusing on stereotypes. The current market for opium may differ significantly from historical patterns. Hudson suggests that those importing opium might not be overly concerned about the end market for the drug, as criminal groups are primarily motivated by financial gain.

The increase in opium production in Myanmar, a major source country for Australia’s opium, is also noteworthy. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reported that Myanmar’s opium production is at its highest in over two decades. The report links opium poppy cultivation in Southeast Asia to poverty, lack of government services, and political instability.

Opium can be challenging to detect due to its organic nature and the ability to impregnate it into various items. The AFP seized 155kg of opium from over 125 attempted imports via air, parcel, and sea cargo in 2023. Criminal groups in Australia are believed to use connections in the UK, India, and Pakistan to source the drug.

Source: The Guardian

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Australia

How the Denver Bulldogs emerged as Aussie rules football powerhouse, community beacon over last 25 years

Published

2 months ago

October 5, 2024

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Around midnight in the parking lot of a Denver bar a quarter century ago, the Colorado version of a classic Australian sport was born.

Paul Renouf and his buddies were watching the Australian Football League’s Grand Final that night and decided to have a kick under the light poles at halftime of footy’s Super Bowl.

And thus the seeds of the Denver Bulldogs were planted.

Read the rest of this story on TheKnow.DenverPost.com.

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Australia

New Regulations in Australia Tighten Access to Vapes

Published

11 months ago

January 5, 2024

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Summary: Australia has introduced new measures to restrict the availability of vapes, effective from this year. These reforms aim to close loopholes in existing laws that have allowed easy access to addictive and harmful vaping products, particularly among young people. The changes include a ban on the importation of disposable vapes, a domestic manufacture and sales ban, and revised prescription access for therapeutic vapes.

Australia Implements Stricter Regulations for Vapes

The Australian government’s new regulations, starting this year, are designed to limit the availability of vapes. These reforms address the current loopholes that have enabled easy access to addictive, flavored, and harmful vaping products, especially marketed towards kids. Vaping products will remain available via prescription for smoking cessation, but under strict regulation by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

Previously, vaping products in Australia had to be nicotine-free unless obtained through a prescription. However, the industry exploited loopholes, selling nicotine-containing products to young people under the guise of being nicotine-free. Enforcing these standards proved challenging due to the difficulty in distinguishing nicotine from nicotine-free vapes without lab testing.

The new regulations aim to clarify and enforce the rules more effectively. They will be implemented in three phases: an importation ban on all disposable, single-use vapes, followed by a ban on other vapes unless legally imported for prescription use, and finally, a domestic manufacture and sales ban on all vaping products outside the prescription framework.

Prescription access to vapes for therapeutic purposes is also being revised. All medical and nurse practitioners can now prescribe therapeutic vapes for quitting smoking or managing nicotine dependence. These prescription vapes will have limits on nicotine content, permitted flavors, and standardized medical-style packaging.

Why It Matters: These regulatory changes are significant as they aim to curb the rising trend of vaping among young people in Australia. By tightening the rules around the availability and sale of vapes, the government is taking a firm stance against the vaping industry’s practices that target young consumers. These measures are expected to reduce the accessibility of potentially harmful vaping products and promote public health.

Potential Implications: The new regulations could lead to a decrease in vape usage among young people, potentially reducing the long-term health risks associated with vaping. The changes might also encourage more people to seek professional medical advice for smoking cessation. However, there could be challenges in enforcing these regulations, and the vaping industry might adapt its strategies in response.

Source: Inside Retail Australia