BIKIES FLEX MUSCLES IN DRUG TRADE

THE drug trade in Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Geraldton is growing as bikie
gangs flex their muscles, according to an Australian Bureau of
Criminal Intelligence report.

Bikie gang-backed laboratories in the Goldfields are responsible for
producing a big portion of Perth's amphetamines.

And there has been an increase in the use of crystal methamphetamine,
or ice, in Geraldton as bikie activity grows.

Despite these developments, marijuana remains the most popular illegal
drug in Australia, according to the Illicit Drug Report 1999-2000.

Last financial year, 4365kg of cannabis was seized, up 1024kg from the
previous year but significantly down on 1996-97, when more than
29,000kg was seized.

The report said ecstasy was second in popularity. Ecstasy in WA is
still predominantly imported from Europe and Asia.

Police found just five clandestine laboratories in Australia last
financial year and only one in WA.

Purity of the "love drug" ranged from 0.7 per cent to 46.6 per cent.

Amphetamines have been the big mover in Australia's drug culture in
the past few years. More than 380kg were seized in Australia last year
and 8000 people were arrested, compared with the 3300 arrests and 84kg
which was seized 10 years ago.

The report suggested ecstasy and amphetamines were sold with the
approval of nightclubs in Sydney's King's Cross.

The trend appears to have hit Perth. Last year, Perth police claimed
they would put plainclothes officers in Northbridge night spots to
stop open dealing at clubs.

The report claimed cocaine was becoming more popular in Perth and was
also being moved through city nightclubs. But there were only five
cocaine busts in WA last financial year.

One of the report's authors, Mark Geddes, said heroin remained the
biggest problem for Australian law enforcement agencies.

Mr Geddes, who is the manager for national strategic assessments at
the ABCI, said sections of Australia's Vietnamese and Chinese
community had historical links with the heroin trade.

"With the Chinese it goes back to the triads who first started to
involve themselves in the heroin trade decades ago," he said. "Chinese
business and Chinese crime groups have always been around in
South-East Asia, which is where Australia is."

Crime syndicates soon established themselves in the Chinatowns of
various cities, including Sydney.

Mr Geddes said the Vietnamese became involved in the drug trade
because of the country's closeness to the major heroin manufacturing
nations of Asia. "Geographically they are very close to heroin
production," he said. "More than 90 per cent of the heroin in
Australia has always come from the Golden Triangle of Laos, Thailand
and Burma.

"In most cases the Vietnamese communities in Australia are close-knit
and are reluctant to talk to police. This allows criminal activities
to take place."