Fed: Australia's organised crime multi-faceted and costly - NCA

AAP General News (Australia)
08-08-2001
Fed: Australia's organised crime multi-faceted and costly - NCA

The National Crime Authority says the reach of organised crime in Australia is pervasive,
multi-faceted and has enormous social and economic costs.

In its report, the NCA says organised crime costs $1,000 per person each year.

NCA chairman GARY CROOKE says globalisation and advances in technology have increased
organised crime gangs' scope for money laundering and fraud.

The report also says the drug problem has spiralled since the 1980s and profits are
almost incomprehensible.

Mr CROOKE says a person can bring drugs into Australia for $9,000 a kilogram and then
sell them to a dealer for $90,000 a kilo.

He says organised crime deserves a similar priority to threats against national security.

Mr CROOKE says crime fighters are frustrated by laws that vary from state to state.

He says NCA staff have been working on the problem for seven years and are close to
producing a report.

AAP RTV jb/daw/hn/jn

KEYWORD: NCA (CANBERRA)

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