DRUG CONFERENCE TO TACKLE ENFORCEMENT ISSUES

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty says the Australasian
Drug Strategy Conference in Alice Springs will improve understanding
between international and local law enforcement agencies.

Around 260 delegates from 11 countries are attending the conference which
begins this week.

Commissioner Keelty says conference delegates will include people from
countries known as sources for drug imports into Australia.

"If we have a common understanding of the problem then we're far better
placed to have a solution that might have some universal applicability
about it," he said.

"Our problem in policing has largely been in the past, that we've dealt
with these in isolation."

Mr Keelty says the re-emergence of the illegal drug LSD in Australia is a
frightening trend.

He says a large haul of LSD captured by police in Byron Bay in New South
Wales recently, suggests it is making a comeback after almost disappearing
in Australia during the 1980s.

"To have such a significant seizure, over 200,000 tabs and 190 millilitres
of LSD, is a frightening trend and one that we need to share at a
conference like this to see if the experience of other law enforcement
officers is in this area of LSD," he said.

Northern Territory Police Commissioner Paul White says making petrol
sniffing illegal is also likely to be considered at the conference.

"As to whether or not that's the best option for here, we need to listen to
what the conference has to say and think about what those options might
be," he said.

"If there are options that I think are suitable I'll take those to my
minister and have a good discussion with the minister in relation to it."