BUST WILL HIT SUPPLY: POLICE

The largest heroin seizure in Australia's history would bring a short-term
drop in the amount of heroin on Melbourne's streets, police said yesterday.

But while the Victorian drug squad was confident the seizure would have a
signficant impact on heroin supplies, at least in the short term, other drug
experts were not convinced.

The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre said the seizure was a mere
drop in the ocean of a seemingly endless supply. Its detection would not
make it any harder for addicts to get supplies, said centre information
officer, Mr Paul Dillon.

Mr Dillon said a shipment of this size arrived more than once a year, along
with many smaller shipments on a regular basis.

``The major impact of a seizure of this size is that dealers will take
advantage of (the) fact there is belief there will be shortage, and will up
the price for a time,'' he said.

[peVictorian drug squad detectives said AEntsayesterdayAEnte the seizure
AEntsaof 400AEthkilograms of heroin off AEntsathe coast atAEnte Port
Macquarie early yesterdayAEnte would have AEntsamakeAEnte a significant
impact in the supply of heroin in Melbourne.]

The acting head of the squad, Detective Inspector Chris Notman, also said
the shortage may force up heroin prices on the streets, which in turn could
cause a rise in crime as addicts had to pay more for their heroin.

Mr Notman said there were a number of routes for heroin into Victoria but
most supplies came across the New South Wales border.

``The main source and supply of heroin does appear to come from Sydney and
we've got no doubt some of it (the heroin) was destined for Melbourne,'' he
said. ``Reducing the level in heroin on the street is our main objective so
we are very happy with this seizure and hopefully this reduction will
benefit the overall problem to some degree,'' he said.

Mr Notman said the shortage would most likely be felt in areas of Melbourne
where the drug was prevalent.

``There are certain areas that receive priority police attention and if
there is a shortage it will most likely be felt in those areas first,'' he
said.

Mr Greg Rumbold, a researcher from the Turning Point Drug Centre in Fitzroy,
was sceptical of the impact that the seizure would have on Melbourne
streets.

``There are so many different ways heroin comes into this state and it is
such a huge job to try to monitor all of that and Customs just don't have
the resources,'' he said.

Mr Rumbold, who conducts regular studies on the availability, price and
purity of heroin in Melbourne, said purity and availability had been rising
steadily in recent years while prices had been falling.

He said a cap of heroin averaged around $40, although the price varied
depending on the source.

with AAP

Checked-by: Don Beck