Gary was a victim of a cocaine-addiction culture by a corporate Sydney demographic
Hindsight has its benefits. Had Gary and his family been aware of the drug use culture in Oracle Sydney sales at the time, and indeed of the extent of drug use particularly in Sydney (and across other Australian cities); the encouragement and decision for Gary to go from London to Sydney would probably not have gone ahead.
But hindsight also has its downsides. Knowing after the event, as the police investigation incrementally discovered more causal and backstory information into Gary’s bizarre and tragic death, has brought considerable grief and regret particularly to Gary’s family and loved ones. Gary’s “death by misadventure” in 2013 is indelibly part of history.
Yet, this final chapter in this sad tale broadens the scope of this book from commencing with the limited backstory about Gary from our Chapter 1, and then adding subsequent revelations.
Here we now delve into the underlying drug use culture that contributed beyond the ‘why’ Gary did what he did on that fateful night, to the over-riding influence of Sydney’s corporate culture and drug use dependency that Gary (at just 23) was exposed to.
However, our latest research has revealed further twists in this story – of perhaps of the intrigue magnitude of an Agatha Christie mystery?
“The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ,
Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.”
~ Omar Khayyám, Persia [1048-1131]
While we well know the traditional connection and worth of the printed book, albeit nonfiction or fiction, another benefit of the ‘web-book’ form of writing that we are adopting and finetuning, is the ability to add subsequent editions freely and as a ‘Postscripts‘ PART of the book later on. This we have decided to employ, during the writing of this book, since we have discovered new insights, relevant to this tale. True twists.
This averts any need for any thought of a second edition. Life evolves, and history repeats.
Meanwhile, appropriately, we start with this Chapter 12 with what we’ve learned about Gary, only in the press mind you. Then to broaden the enquiry into the corporate culture and the social drug use culture that Gary was likely susceptible to.
The images and personal feedback about Gary was that he was young, fit, energetic, intelligent, a team player at work, had supportive parents and was in a stable relationship.
From media reported information online about Gary’s work situation, little is known about what Gary’s job title was at Oracle in Sydney, nor how many months he had been working there.
What can be garnered is that at age 23 he would have been a recent graduate from a university/college degree (typically 3 years) and had so would have have few years workplace experience. He would have been a young relatively new recruit at Oracle, so a junior Sales Executive, and possible an ‘intern’ on perhaps a standard 3-month initial probation period with typical fortnightly retainer salaries for that role being in the range of AUD $35-45K, plus company car lease (including expenses) and any sales commissions and bonuses paid in arrears based upon current sales performance.
Gary was intelligent (according to his girlfriend) but not a high earner at this early stage in his IT career. So, Gary’s disposable income in his new Sydney living context was very low in order to be able to afford the likely high rent for his unit in Sydney’s exclusive North Shore (area) suburb of Cremorne (adjacent to Sydney’s high-end suburb of Mosman), plus living expenses, before discretionary leisure/entertainment expenses.
From a UK comparison, it would be like working in London’s financial hub ‘The City’ and living around Kew Palace on the Thames River. Only the well-heeled can afford and justify such an expensive abode.
Gary’s choice of abode was Sydney central, convenient to work (11km drive) and to Sydney’s attractive and vibrant harbour city lifestyle.
So, based upon Gary’s likely typical income from Oracle, financially Gary would have likely just been able to make ends meet, yet it is likely he had the financial backing of receiving reliable timely remittances from his family back home to support Gary’s new found career opportunity on the other side of the world.
To be able to afford the high rent, Gary would have likely shared his unit with other tenants. Perhaps also his father paid Gary’s rent? This would substantially have freed up Gary’s disposable income for leisure/entertainment expenses.
We consider Gary’s likely financial situation as a backdrop to comprehend then how he could afford using cocaine?
Gary conveyed and displayed signs of drug influence
We have previously confirmed the police evidence that Gary was a cocaine drug user, if not addict, or budding addict.
We have also previously confirmed that Gary’s wasted and then erratic behaviour on the night he went missing was consistent with his cocaine use and possibly Ecstasy – so a cocktail of narcotics stimulants known in drug circles as ‘uppers’.
That night, Gary’s video-captured running from the resort at midnight in just a shirt and jeans in freezing conditions, plus his desperate mobile phone conversation combined to have displayed and conveyed signs of abnormal increase in energy, agitation, irritability, confusion, hallucinations about seeking some “light on a hill” and a sense of euphoria.
Such are the typical signs and symptoms evidence of narcotic stimulant use – the likes of cocaine and ecstasy (MDMA) – both being the two types of narcotics that Gary’s drug dealer Christopher Pambos was caught later by police trading illegally in. This is evidence based according to the University of Sydney’s Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use at the National Drug & Alcohol Research Centre at the University of New South Wales.
The most likely only potential other drug that Gary may have taken on that fateful night before going missing was therefore ecstasy (MDMA). This is on the basis that Gary’s drug dealer contact Christopher Pambos was the only identified source of narcotics being supplied to Gary’s Oracle sales colleagues – likely their ‘go-to’ supplier of such narcotics.
Whilst it is noted that Gary’s drug deal that night failed to take place, since the Oracle corporate dinner at Silks Brasserie, by the time Gary and his colleagues boarded the taxi at reportedly 11pm back to the resort, Gary was observed ‘wasted’ by more than one independent witness.
Now, the slang term ‘wasted‘ usually describes a person’s observed physical condition as being seriously drunk/intoxicated/inebriated, such that they have a high level of impairment to have difficulty standing, speaking clearly (slurred speech), and/or coordinating themselves.
However, such a state is not consistent with being under the influence of stimulant drugs like cocaine and/or ecstasy alone; moreso alcohol.
This means that Gary had probably been under the influence of some drugs and or alcohol at the time whilst during the corporate dinner occasion at Silks Brasserie.
Now it has been confirmed that Gary had never met drug dealer Pambos (on that night nor any time prior). So the obvious presumption is that his drug source was from one or more of his sales colleagues, whom he continues to ‘party’ with immediately afterwards in one of the resort’s guest rooms after returning from the dinner. Police say Tweddle has only a few sips of a beer there before he runs to make his drug deal.
More questions:
- What drugs did Gary take that day and night, and over what period and what quantity?
- What drugs were later detected in his system?
- Did he also take ecstasy as well as cocaine – a few for his ‘drug mule’ trip by train to Penrith offered by the lads? The train trip that immediately up departing the resort turned into a psychotic fantasy?
- Given Gary was “wasted” boarding the taxi at Silks, where did he suddenly find the energy to run out of the resort at midnight, exactly an hour later, and keep running and not feel the freezing chill of the mountain night air?
- What quantity of cocaine line snorting and ecstasy tablets did his Oracle sales “mates” serve him up at Silks (in the Mens Room) and than again back in that resort bedroom?
According to the
Alcohol and Drug Foundation (ADF) the most common type of cocaine trafficked is ‘
Cocaine Hydrochloride‘ (being a diluted variant in white powder form akin in appearance to Bicarbonate of Soda ) as opposed to the pure ‘
Freebase‘, else ‘
Crack Cocaine‘ (having impurities). The latter two are much more expensive.
‘Cocaine Hydrochloride’ as a white powder is typically snorted, rather than smoked, injected or rubbed on gums. Also according to the ADF, snorting this form of cocaine takes between 1 and 10 minutes to feel the drug’s effects and last for around 90 minutes. This is wholly consistent with Gary’s observed energetic behaviour from the time that Gary ran alone out of the Fairmont Resort.
Notably, such behaviour had changed markedly since Gary was observed just an hour prior outside Silk’s Brasserie as being clearly “wasted” and had to be helped into a taxi.
In addition, according to the Alcohol and Drug Foundation (Melbourne), to mix cocaine with other drugs can have unpredictable effects and increase the risk of harm. For instance, they report that mixing Cocaine and MDMA (ecstasy) increases the risk of psychosis, heart strain, and heart attack.
‘Psychosis‘ is characterized by a loss of contact with reality, often involving delusions, hallucinations, disordered thinking, and disordered behavior.
Sounds like Gary’s abnormal behaviour that night he went missing?
What are the effects of taking Cocaine?
Cocaine is a tropane alkaloid and central nervous system stimulant derived primarily from the leaves of two coca species native to South America: Erythroxylum coca and E. novogranatense.
What are the effects of taking MDMA?
(TBA)
Why cocaine has become ‘the drug of choice’ for corporate Sydney executive demographic…(think Gary)
Dr. Christian Rowan, an Addiction Specialist and the Medical Director at The Banyans Health and Wellness Residence (Brisbane) has attributed the particularly high prevalence of cocaine use to its stimulating effects.
“People often take cocaine over other drugs because it is perceived to be low risk, and effective for making you feel awake and energized.”
Whether professionals are misusing the drug to increase their productivity or “let their hair down”, it is often the increased energy or release of tension that initially captures their attention.
Dr. Rowan also believes that cocaine’s reputation as a status symbol is also contributing to it being a drug of choice. “Because the substance [cocaine] is expensive to obtain, it carries a sense of glamour and elite exclusivity.” He relates it to being similar to purchasing an expensive bottle of wine at a restaurant.
However, Dr. Rowan highlights the inaccurate perception of cocaine being “less addictive” or “not as bad” as other illicit drugs. “Usually executives and business people are initially using cocaine recreationally in a social setting. Because of this, people may be unaware of their developing drug dependency.” With cocaine being widespread and prevalent within these elite circles, “social use” could still mean that people are using the substance multiple times a week[vi].
Reports published by The University of Sydney in 2013 conveyed similar observations. Research suggested cocaine-users reporting significantly higher average incomes considered themselves “social users, rather than addicts”. These people were often misusing the drug in conjunction with alcohol.
In an article by The Sydney Morning Herald, one cocaine user confessed that cocaine was preferred over other drugs because of the very few physical symptoms or consequences, unlike methamphetamines or marijuana.
However, Dr. Rowan explains that this notion is a misconception, and cocaine is just as harmful as any other drug. A dependency can develop after a very short period of use, and may go unrecognized for a long time.
Common signs of cocaine use include disrupted sleeping patterns, erratic behavior and dramatic mood swings. Dr. Rowan suggests that behaviors associated with greater desperation to attain cocaine, or feeling unable to function without it, can lead to an increase in time or money spent in obtaining the drug. “In turn, this may lead to a deteriorating physical or psychological condition, a key indicator of a developing dependency or addiction.”
“Many of the individuals misusing cocaine in the C-Suite level of businesses are very intelligent, articulate people who are driven to achieve outcomes. These people may not even be aware of their dependency issues, as they will feel like they are keeping their head above the water, so to speak.” Dr. Rowan says that this can make it very difficult to approach a loved one or colleague who may be misusing cocaine.
Peter Hayton, former Clinical Director and Senior Psychologist at The Banyans Health and Wellness Residence has over twenty years of experience in the field, and explains that planning the conversation is one of the keys to success. “It is important that you consider some of the personality traits of your loved one or colleague, and how they might respond to your concerns.” He reminds people to try and approach the topic with as much gentleness and understanding as possible.
If you are concerned about a colleague, Peter notes that the workplace may not be the most effective environment to raise the issue. “There is not a one-size-fits-all technique with these things. But often, it is necessary to involve their family and wider support network.”
Why Cocaine is more expensive than most other narcotics
For some decades prior to 2013, Australian society, and in Sydney particularly, had developed a escalating use of fully imported cocaine and ecstasy stimulants, as well as the use of other types of narcotics such as marijuana and heroine. The encouraged growth in international trade and shipping has facilitated this.
All cocaine is fully imported illegally into Australia originating from south American countries – Colombia, Peru, Bolivia. It is smuggled via Brazil and Vanuatu primarily organised by Brazilian organised crime syndicate, Primeiro Comando da Capital, headquartered in the city of São Paulo.
“Vanuatu’s proximity to Australia makes it a potential transit point for illicit drug shipments. New or less scrutinised trade routes, such as the one involving Vanuatu, may have weaker customs controls, increasing the risk of undetected drug trafficking. From there, smaller vessels or yachts can transport cocaine via another Pacific island or directly to Australia, taking advantage of the region’s vast and difficult-to-monitor maritime space.
[SOURCE: Australia’s new security threat: cocaine trafficking by Brazilian crime groups, 2025-02-06, by Rodrigo Duton, Australian Strategic Policy Institute, ASPI]
More recently so, the use of methamphetamine (dubbed also as ‘Crystal meth’, ‘Ice’).
But it has particularly been the demand for the more expensive and fully imported cocaine that has been the main drawcard by Sydney’s corporate executives having a higher disposable income.
“Australians pay some of the highest prices in the world for cocaine: one kilogram is valued at around $3000 in Colombia, can sell for $10,000 in Brazil and for between $160,000 and $200,000 in Australia. While transporting cocaine to Australia adds cost, the enormous profit margin is understandably driving expanded PCC operations.”
[SOURCE: ASPI, loc.cit]
“Cocaine is the drug of choice for Australia’s C-Level executives. With a large disposable income, high stakes, long working hours and an intense social scene, it seems that cocaine is often the substance of choice for Australia’s wealthiest and most influential business executives.
The corporate culture of drug misuse is growing among C-level professionals – especially in the banking and finance sector, the construction field, the legal profession and Australia’s mining industry.” [^SOURCE]
According to a report by The Daily Telegraph (Sydney), one cocaine supplier admitted to spending most of his time in Sydney’s wealthiest eastern suburbs (like where Gary rented), where the average income is $200,015 per year. This figure is not likely anywhere close to what Gary earned at Oracle, but him an his sales colleagues pooling their disposable income as in their $1550 deal with Pambos.
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The Alarming Cocaine User Demographics in Sydney
June 15, 2017
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Drug Use Culture
2018
https://thebanyans.com.au/cocaine-executives/
Addiction and Dependency
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Sydney Usage
2020
Australia’s Cocaine Crisis: According to our wastewater, 5,675kg of cocaine was consumed in 2020, with much of the trafficked narcotics is coming in through our sea ports.
Australia’s cocaine crisis
June 16, 2021 NewsDNA
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/australias-cocaine-crisis/video/ccb38d4dda94c2259935352de71e405b
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2021:
Australia the highest per capita cocaine user in the world
Natalie Brown
June 20, 2021
https://www.news.com.au/national/australia-the-highest-per-capita-cocaine-user-in-the-world/news-story/c91869d4e2b2adeef266917d82f705e0
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Why Is Australia The #1 Country For Drug Abusers?
https://www.thecabinsydney.com.au/blog/why-is-australia-the-1-country-for-drug-abusers/
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Purportedly, Sydney (Australia) has the highest per capita cocaine use in the world.
Must be demand and supply and crap quarantine. Australia is an island after all and its not grown in Australia, just illegally imported.
Australia’s Cocaine Crisis: According to our wastewater, 5,675kg of cocaine was consumed in 2020, with much of the trafficked narcotics is coming in through our sea ports.
A major investigation has blown the lid on Australia’s cocaine war, revealing that quantities of the drug are hitting our shores at unprecedented levels and the shocking truth at the heart of our nation’s crisis.
A Sky News Australia special, has examined the extraordinary lengths that the kingpins of our nation’s cocaine trade go to to smuggle huge quantities of the substance onto our shores — and how the so-called “party drug” has come to impact every level of society.
“It is an absolute tsunami of drugs entering this country and you can’t blame the police — they’re a little force fighting it at the front end, but we are just being absolutely swamped by drugs, by meth, but mostly by cocaine,” News Corp Australia senior correspondent, Charles Miranda, who has been looking into Australia’s illicit drug market for decades, told host Peter Stefanovic.
While once considered the drug of the wealthy city dweller, statistics reveal cocaine usage has now spread much further — Australia is now the highest per capita user of the drug in the world, with trade estimated to be as high as $2 billion and five and a half tonnes consumed here each year — figures deemed “staggering” by Miranda.
“What we know from our wastewater data is that cocaine is a serious drug for the country. Australians are a country of stimulant users — cocaine is a stimulant,” the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission’s Dr Katie Willis said.
“All of the data that we have is pointing in the direction of expansion in the cocaine market.”
Rising cocaine use in Sydney’s most affluent neighbourhoods
Authorities estimate that between May and September 2015 alone, the drivers involved in the arrest were supplying cocaine to nearly two thousand customers.
In her article Olding cites that cocaine use in New South Wales has been steadily rising at 22 per cent annually in the last five years.
Even more alarming are the statistics in the eastern suburbs, with Woollahra’s use and possession rate being 12 times higher than the state average. This puts the suburb second only to rates in the CBD.
Are Your Employees Really Safe?
When you think of drug users, the image of a professional, gainfully employed adult isn’t what usually comes to mind.
But given the statistics of where most of the cocaine in the state is used, we have to rethink that image. It is obvious that cocaine use is prevalent and increasing among affluent white-collar professionals.
This was further illustrated in the highly publicised arrest of Lisa Munro, the solicitor from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, who pleaded guilty to drug possession earlier this year.
Given the prevalence of drug use today, you really cannot be certain just how many of your own employees or colleagues could be suffering from addiction and drug dependency.
It’s a very real problem that requires tangible intervention. If you’re concerned about this problem and want to do something about it, give us a call today.
*
The Alarming Cocaine User Demographics in Sydney
June 15, 2017
Many of us make a fatal assumption when it comes to drug users.
Most people still assume that drug addiction is a problem mainly found with lowly-educated, marginalised people in Australia’s lower socio-economic suburbs.
However, a recent article written by Rachel Olding for the Sydney Morning Herald shows the opposite is true.
A growing cocaine drug trade is hiding in the underbelly of some of Sydney’s most affluent suburbs.
In her article, Olding reports of two 30 year old men who had been operating a syndicate that delivered drugs to thousands of people across the eastern suburbs and city. Equally astonishing is how invicible these men appaerantly felt running their operations.
Round-the-clock drug deliveries
Based in Homebush Andrew Hadi and Beau Greentree ran their cocaine operations from home. Buyers would text the men for “rock show tickets” or “beers” – code for a 0.5 gram bag of cocaine for $200.
The pair employed six drivers, each working 12-hour shifts to make deliveries to customers around the city. During a shift a driver would deliver up to 50 bags of cocaine each to customers. The drivers earned anywhere from $150 to $200 for every six bags delivered.
The drivers also did little to keep their illicit drug running around the city discreet. Bondi model and entrepreneur George Gerges was known to make deliveries using his black Lexus, while another man apparently used his father’s cab to make a delivery in Woollahra.
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2019
Sydney is the cocaine capital of Australia
July 5, 2019
New South Wales is making the headlines again relating to illicit cocaine use.
This after recent operations targeting the supply of cocaine in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. In this case, Police apprehended a total of 55 people for either buying or selling cocaine. What’s shocking is the brazen way buyers and sellers act on the streets of Sydney’s eastern suburbs. It is definitely unsettling.
In an article by Lucy Cormack in The Sydney Morning Herald, she details efforts and worries of the authorities that are working to contain cocaine use in the country.
In the past two years, the Bureau of Crime and Statistics saw a 7.7 increase in the number of criminal cases involving the possession and use of cocaine.
What’s clear is that Sydneysiders have a big appetite for the drug. According to the state’s chief crime statistician Don Weatherburn, “There is no doubt Sydney is the cocaine capital of Australia.”
A growing acceptance of cocaine use
The acceptance of the drug likely contributes to the growing base of cocaine users.
For some, it’s a weekly habit, and for others, an occasional treat. Furthermore, its reputation as an elite drug is also not helping. Drug user demographics show cocaine has become the drug of choice of the affluent.
NSW Police Minister David Elliott says that the elite are not protected from the reality of a cold jail cell. He added: “The use of any illicit drug is unacceptable, regardless of the demographic or reason and I’ll be backing our police 100 percent in their battle to rid this poison from our community.”
Record production of cocaine
cocaine packets
According to the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, the number of cocaine users in the nation continues to grow.
Mr. Weatherburn worries that if occasional users become daily or weekly users, it may lead to a rise in other crime.
Cocaine seizures this year gives you an idea of the supply that makes its way into the country. For instance, law enforcement yielded 68kg of cocaine in April and just this week, another 30kg was discovered in a Southern Tablelands lab.
According to Shane Neilson, ACIC’s head of determination high risk and emerging drugs, “the world is inundated with cocaine at the moment.”
There is record production of cocaine in Colombia, where a kilo of the coca plant costs $200, and on the streets of Sydney, costs $300 a gram. However, despite the high price tag, the user base of the illicit drug is expanding.
The Broadened User Base of Cocaine
The perception of cocaine has changed significantly over the past two to five years. According to the latest data, the user base is no longer limited to certain sections of society. In fact, many now view cocaine as a party drug and do not see an issue with using it.
As per Police Minister Elliott, cocaine is a curse to society. And law enforcement needs continued support to fight the war.
In the absence of stigma (unlike heroin), tackling growing cocaine use takes more than just seizing the drug. We need to be clear that cocaine abuse really is a curse on society.
Enforce Random Drug Testing For Cocaine At Work
What the recent reports show is that no demographic, industry or profession is safe from illicit drug use. It is an unfortunate truth that many drug users in our country not only are affluent, but belong to the workforce.
Without knowing who among your employees use cocaine, how can you take action against growing drug dependency and maintain workplace safety?
This is where drug testing for cocaine comes in. Random drug testing has shown to be very effective in curbing employee drug use.
By making random drug testing part of your comprehensive drug safe workplace programme (along with cocaine awareness programme), you can deter your employees from using and the drug.
Drug-Safe Australia will help you develop the most effective drug policy and tailor it to meet your company’s needs.
Find out who among your employees is abusing cocaine — get in touch with us today.
Related Posts:
The Alarming Cocaine User Demographics in Sydney
Aussies Pay More For Cocaine
Smashed Trafficking Ring Highlights Size of Ice Problem In Australia
Setting New Drug Records
https://thebanyans.com.au/cocaine-executives/
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“It is an absolute tsunami of drugs entering this country and you can’t blame the police — they’re a little force fighting it at the front end, but we are just being absolutely swamped by drugs, by meth, but mostly by cocaine,” News Corp Australia senior correspondent, Charles Miranda, who has been looking into Australia’s illicit drug market for decades, told host Peter Stefanovic.
While once considered the drug of the wealthy city dweller, statistics reveal cocaine usage has now spread much further — Australia is now the highest per capita user of the drug in the world, with trade estimated to be as high as $2 billion and five and a half tonnes consumed here each year — figures deemed “staggering” by Miranda.
“What we know from our wastewater data is that cocaine is a serious drug for the country. Australians are a country of stimulant users — cocaine is a stimulant,” the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission’s Dr Katie Willis said.
“All of the data that we have is pointing in the direction of expansion in the cocaine market.”
Australia is now the highest per capita user of cocaine in the world, with five and a half tonnes consumed each year.
The fact that most people spent the last 12 months locked indoors has done little “to diminish the appetite for cocaine in this country”, explained Miranda.
“It’s just phenomenal. And in some respects, the war is escalated behind the scenes, behind the sort of distraction that is Covid-19,” he said.
“The value of it has gone up, under the perception that it’s harder to get, but it’s not harder to get. We’re getting more ship exports, genuine ship exports, than ever before because we’re not flying as much airfreight — so we’re shipping it all, and in the guise of ship freights,f legitimate ship freights, are these drugs.”
The highest demand for cocaine is still in Sydney — which for years has demonstrated a remarkable appetite for the drug that only continues to grow, driven by a high level of social acceptance for cocaine and the fact that products are widely available, because the city is a major port of entry for goods coming into the country.
Data from the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission’s wastewater analysis last year showed that the NSW capital (Sydney) consumed 15 doses of cocaine per 1000 people on average day, compared to Melbourne’s six doses, Brisbane’s five and Canberra’s 10.
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Australia the highest per capita cocaine user in the world
A major investigation has blown the lid on Australia’s cocaine war, with quantities of the drug hitting our shores at unprecedented levels.
by Natalie Brown
June 20, 2021
https://www.news.com.au/national/australia-the-highest-per-capita-cocaine-user-in-the-world/news-story/c91869d4e2b2adeef266917d82f705e0
Australia is now the highest per capita user of cocaine in the world, with five and a half tonnes consumed each year. The fact that most people spent the last 12 months locked indoors has done little “to diminish the appetite for cocaine in this country”, explained Miranda.
“It’s just phenomenal. And in some respects, the war is escalated behind the scenes, behind the sort of distraction that is Covid-19,” he said. “The value of it has gone up, under the perception that it’s harder to get, but it’s not harder to get. We’re getting more ship exports, genuine ship exports, than ever before because we’re not flying as much airfreight — so we’re shipping it all, and in the guise of ship freights, legitimate ship freights, are these drugs.”
The highest demand for cocaine is still in Sydney — which for years has demonstrated a remarkable appetite for the drug that only continues to grow, driven by a high level of social acceptance for cocaine and the fact that products are widely available, because the city is a major port of entry for goods coming into the country.
Data from the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission’s wastewater analysis last year showed that the NSW capital (Sydney) consumed 15 doses of cocaine per 1000 people on average day, compared to Melbourne’s six doses, Brisbane’s five and Canberra’s 10.
At The Banyans “luxury rehabilitation clinic” in southeast Queensland, about two in five people seeking treatment for cocaine addiction come from Sydney — with CEO Ruth Limkin saying some there have spent as much as $10,000 or $20,000 a week on the habit.
RELATED: ‘Year’s worth’ of cocaine seized
2021
Australia the highest per capita cocaine user in the world
A major investigation has blown the lid on Australia’s cocaine war, with quantities of the drug hitting our shores at unprecedented levels.
by Natalie Brown
June 20, 2021
https://www.news.com.au/national/australia-the-highest-per-capita-cocaine-user-in-the-world/news-story/c91869d4e2b2adeef266917d82f705e0
At The Banyans “luxury rehabilitation clinic” in southeast Queensland, about two in five people seeking treatment for cocaine addiction come from Sydney — with CEO Ruth Limkin saying some there have spent as much as $10,000 or $20,000 a week on the habit.
RELATED: ‘Year’s worth’ of cocaine seized
Sydney remains the “cocaine capital” of Australia. Picture: AAP Image/April Fonti
Sydney remains the “cocaine capital” of Australia. Picture: AAP Image/April Fonti
Cocaine use has filtered down through “every level of society, down to tradies”.
Cocaine use has filtered down through “every level of society, down to tradies”.
“You might remember years ago, it was sort of the mainstay for the media industry even, or the judicial industry, all the lawyers, rich people, high society, business types — cocaine was for the business types,” Miranda said.
“Now it’s every level of society, down to the tradies. Anyone who’s got a few bucks, it’s very easy to get hold of.”
While it may be easy to get a hold of, though, it’ll take more than “a few bucks” to do so — Australians pay a premium price for cocaine, forking out a minimum of $300 for a gram, which equates to about 10 lines or doses.
“What is known that of course it is worth a lot more, and sold for a much higher price, in Australia than it is in Mexico, here, or Colombia, or the United States,” Andalusia Knoll Soloff, a reporter based in Mexico City, explained.
“Here in Mexico, one gram of cocaine on average costs between $3 and $14 — it depends on what part of the city or the country you’re in. Then once it gets to the United States, it’s worth between $60 and $80, and then once it gets to Australia it’s worth around $300.”
An importation of 160kg of cocaine, worth an estimated $40 million, seized in Victoria as part of Operation Ironside.
A significant segment of the price is driven by the major profit margins enjoyed by local organised crime groups who have facilitated the importation of the drug from international suppliers — often cartels in South America.
According to NSW Police Organised Crime Squad’s Detective Superintendent Martin Fileman, the huge profit margins directly correlate to the size of the risks facilitators are willing to take to bring the drug into Australia.
“When you look at the way where Australia is, and you look at the price you can pay for a kilo of cocaine in America, or even Australia to South America — South America [it’s] $3000 a kilo, here, $230,000 a kilo,” he said.
“So the risks that these facilitators or these organised crime syndicates in Australia — they are willing to take [them].”
On June 8, the “sting of the century”, Operation Ironside, nabbed dozens of suspects as part of a global operation to bring down terrorist groups, mafia organisations and outlaw motorcycle gangs.
“We’ve taken their money, we’ve taken their livelihoods, and we’ve arrested, you know, 250 people in Australia and 800 people across the globe,” Australian Federal Police Commander Kirsty Schofield said.
But the sting only hit about five or 10 per cent of the cocaine flushing into Australia — showing we’re a country very much in crisis mode.
“The unfortunate part about it is we have a market over here for cocaine, so as long as we’ve got a market, they’re going to keep importing it,” Supt Fileman said.
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Cocaine is the drug of choice for Australia’s C-Level executives
https://thebanyans.com.au/cocaine-executives/
With a large disposable income, high stakes, long working hours and an intense social scene, it seems that cocaine is often the substance of choice for Australia’s wealthiest and most influential business executives.
The corporate culture of drug misuse is growing among C-level professionals – especially in the banking and finance sector, the construction field, the legal profession and Australia’s mining industry[i].
According to a report by The Daily Telegraph, one cocaine supplier admitted to spending most of his time in Sydney’s wealthiest eastern suburbs[ii], where the average income is $200,015 per year[iii]. Similarly, Sydney-based police are also noting a steady rise in drug-related incidents in the higher earning suburbs[iv].
Dr. Christian Rowan is an Addiction Specialist and the Medical Director at The Banyans Health and Wellness Residence. He attributes the particularly high prevalence of cocaine use[v] to its stimulating effects. “People often take cocaine over other drugs because it is perceived to be low risk, and effective for making you feel awake and energized.” Whether professionals are misusing the drug to increase their productivity or “let their hair down”, it is often the increased energy or release of tension that initially captures their attention.
Dr. Rowan also believes that cocaine’s reputation as a status symbol is also contributing to it being a drug of choice. “Because the substance [cocaine] is expensive to obtain, it carries a sense of glamour and elite exclusivity.” He relates it to being similar to purchasing an expensive bottle of wine at a restaurant.
However, Dr. Rowan highlights the inaccurate perception of cocaine being “less addictive” or “not as bad” as other illicit drugs. “Usually executives and business people are initially using cocaine recreationally in a social setting. Because of this, people may be unaware of their developing drug dependency.” With cocaine being widespread and prevalent within these elite circles, “social use” could still mean that people are using the substance multiple times a week[vi].
Reports published by The University of Sydney in 2013 conveyed similar observations.
Research suggested cocaine-users reporting significantly higher average incomes considered themselves “social users, rather than addicts”. These people were often misusing the drug in conjunction with alcohol.
In an article by The Sydney Morning Herald, one cocaine user confessed that cocaine was preferred over other drugs because of the very few physical symptoms or consequences, unlike methamphetamines or marijuana[viii]. However, Dr. Rowan explains that this notion is a misconception, and cocaine is just as harmful as any other drug. A dependency can develop after a very short period of use, and may go unrecognized for a long time[ix].
Common signs of cocaine use include disrupted sleeping patterns, erratic behavior and dramatic mood swings. Dr. Rowan suggests that behaviors associated with greater desperation to attain cocaine, or feeling unable to function without it, can lead to an increase in time or money spent in obtaining the drug. “In turn, this may lead to a deteriorating physical or psychological condition, a key indicator of a developing dependency or addiction.”
“Many of the individuals misusing cocaine in the C-Suite level of businesses are very intelligent, articulate people who are driven to achieve outcomes. These people may not even be aware of their dependency issues, as they will feel like they are keeping their head above the water, so to speak.” Dr. Rowan says that this can make it very difficult to approach a loved one or colleague who may be misusing cocaine.
Peter Hayton, the Clinical Director and Senior Psychologist at The Banyans Health and Wellness Residence has over twenty years of experience in the field, and explains that planning the conversation is one of the keys to success. “It is important that you consider some of the personality traits of your loved one or colleague, and how they might respond to your concerns.” He reminds people to try and approach the topic with as much gentleness and understanding as possible.
If you are concerned about a colleague, Peter notes that the workplace may not be the most effective environment to raise the issue.
“There is not a one-size-fits-all technique with these things. But often, it is necessary to involve their family and wider support network.”
The Banyans Health and Wellness Residence has an extensive team of medical and wellness professionals who are experienced in drug addiction recovery and rehabilitation. Dr. Rowan and Peter Hayton work alongside other professionals to help guests overcome their addictions and return to a healthy, balanced state of living. Dr. Rowan explains that this would entail complete abstinence, along with physical wellness, stabilised mood and healthy relationships.
These are the main goals of the tailored programs offered at The Banyans Health and Wellness Residence. Together with psychiatrists, counsellors and psychologists, guests are able to work through a variety of underlying challenges and misconceptions that are limiting their ability to access the fullness of life. Guests partner with exercise physiologists, personal trainers and nutritionists to improve their physical wellness, including a diet and program. Onsite chefs, registered nurses, and wellness coaches also help you along your journey to make sure you achieve effective, long lasting results.
The medically supported program at The Banyans is a comprehensive, integrated approach to health and wellness that equips people with the skills they need to overcome their drug addiction and co-occurring conditions.
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The Alarming Cocaine User Demographics in Sydney
June 15, 2017
Many of us make a fatal assumption when it comes to drug users.
Most people still assume that drug addiction is a problem mainly found with lowly-educated, marginalised people in Australia’s lower socio-economic suburbs.
However, a recent article written by Rachel Olding for the Sydney Morning Herald shows the opposite is true.
A growing cocaine drug trade is hiding in the underbelly of some of Sydney’s most affluent suburbs.
In her article, Olding reports of two 30 year old men who had been operating a syndicate that delivered drugs to thousands of people across the eastern suburbs and city. Equally astonishing is how invicible these men appaerantly felt running their operations.
Round-the-clock drug deliveries
Based in Homebush Andrew Hadi and Beau Greentree ran their cocaine operations from home. Buyers would text the men for “rock show tickets” or “beers” – code for a 0.5 gram bag of cocaine for $200.
The pair employed six drivers, each working 12-hour shifts to make deliveries to customers around the city. During a shift a driver would deliver up to 50 bags of cocaine each to customers. The drivers earned anywhere from $150 to $200 for every six bags delivered.
The drivers also did little to keep their illicit drug running around the city discreet. Bondi model and entrepreneur George Gerges was known to make deliveries using his black Lexus, while another man apparently used his father’s cab to make a delivery in Woollahra.
Under surveillance
Rising cocaine use in Sydney’s most affluent neighbourhoods
Authorities estimate that between May and September 2015 alone, the drivers involved in the arrest were supplying cocaine to nearly two thousand customers.
In her article Olding cites that cocaine use in New South Wales has been steadily rising at 22 per cent annually in the last five years.
Even more alarming are the statistics in the eastern suburbs, with Woollahra’s use and possession rate being 12 times higher than the state average. This puts the suburb second only to rates in the CBD.
Are Your Employees Really Safe?
When you think of drug users, the image of a professional, gainfully employed adult isn’t what usually comes to mind.
But given the statistics of where most of the cocaine in the state is used, we have to rethink that image. It is obvious that cocaine use is prevalent and increasing among affluent white-collar professionals.
This was further illustrated in the highly publicised arrest of Lisa Munro, the solicitor from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, who pleaded guilty to drug possession earlier this year.
Given the prevalence of drug use today, you really cannot be certain just how many of your own employees or colleagues could be suffering from addiction and drug dependency. It’s a very real problem that requires tangible intervention. If you’re concerned about this problem and want to do something about it, give us a call today.
