"The lucrative cocaine trade may be worth billions, but the profits are hugely costly for wider society." JJ Cale.

Sydney's regrettable achievement as the nation's cocaine capital is in little danger, with the Australian Federal Police warning that production of the drug is poised to hit all-time highs.

The AFP made the prediction as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime's latest World Drug Report revealed cocaine production had quadrupled over the decade to 2024. This is largely driven by increases in productivity and the area under cultivation. In 2014, dealers manufactured 869 tonnes of cocaine from 132000 hectares of coca bush. By 2024, an estimated 4100 tonnes of cocaine were manufactured from less than 385000 hectares of coca bush.

Cesar Alvarez, a lecturer in terrorism and security studies at Charles Sturt University, told Amber Schultz of the Herald that improved farming techniques aside, the Colombian government's policies pulling back on coca plant eradication in favour of peace negotiations with criminal groups played a larger role.

The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission reported wastewater analysis show NSW accounts for more than a third of the 8000 kilograms detected in 2024-25. The commission estimated cocaine use in the state jumped 18 per cent that same year.

The growing fondness for what was once the "party" drug of choice goes unhindered as law enforcement agencies struggle to stop the illegal trade. An international joint investigations team consisting of Australian and New Zealand law enforcement agencies and the Colombian police was formed this year to help stop illicit drug shipments coming to the region.

Late last month, the AFP recorded its largest cocaine bust in history at 2.7 tonnes, with an estimated street value of more than $800 million. The drugs were concealed in underground bunkers hidden beneath shipping containers at a Londonderry property.

The public perception of cocaine has been transformed from a "party" drug for affluent members of society and high-profile members of the entertainment industry to one associated with a range of potentially serious and dangerous health problems.

Australia's cocaine addiction comes as a surprise to some, yet it highlights a complex issue that requires a concerted effort to address. The lucrative cocaine trade may be worth billions, but the profits are hugely costly for wider society. The need to fund health, welfare, and law and order programs designed to address the insidious effects of cocaine and other illegal drugs is passed on to the many Australians who, neither addicted nor "party" drug users, are unfairly forced to pay through the nose.

Cocaine Use in NSW: By the Numbers

  • 8000 kilograms of cocaine detected in NSW wastewater in 2024-25
  • Cocaine use in NSW jumped 18% in 2024-25
  • Estimated 4100 tonnes of cocaine manufactured globally in 2024
  • Australia accounts for more than a third of global cocaine use
  • $800 million estimated street value of the largest cocaine bust in Australian history
  • 2.7 tonnes of cocaine seized in the largest bust in Australian history

The cocaine trade is a shadowy underworld of crime, exploitation, and addiction. It's time for Australia to take a closer look at the dark truth behind its addiction and work towards a solution. The AFP's warning that production is poised to reach all-time highs highlights the urgency of the issue. It's time for action, and that action starts with a deeper understanding of the complex issues driving Australia's cocaine addiction.