Once the reserved for only the super rich and famous, cocaine has fast become the drug of choice for hard partying residents in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
In the last two years over half of the people caught with the drug across New South Wales were in the affluent enclaves in the city’s beachside east.
In the last decade the number charged with possession in the area has increased ten-fold, with 597 people caught in 2016 compare to just 51 ten years earlier.
Sydney’s affluent and beachside eastern suburbs are responsible for over half of all cocaine related drug charges in New South Wales
The last decade has seen the number charged with possession in the area has increased ten-fold, with 597 people caught in 2016 compare to just 51 ten years earlier
The trend has also continued across the state with use increased 43.4 per cent in the last two years while deal of the drug has gone up 64 per cent in the same period.
The shift comes with a warning from police, with Minister Troy Grant certain the a part of the scene will be caught.
‘Users are lining the pockets of drug cartels and have been put on notice – if you are caught buying cocaine, you will be charged,’ he said.
‘Cocaine is a dangerous and addictive substance that has destroyed many lives, and this upward swing has got to stop.’
Police Minister Troy Grant (pictured) has warned users of the drug saying: ‘if you are caught buying cocaine, you will be charged.’
NSW Police attributed the increased rates to drug targeting operations.
The upward swing in use follows opposite crime trends across New South Wales which has seen significant decreases in criminal activity over the last several years.
Four of the 17 major offences studied by the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research have been on a downward trend for the last two years, data released on Wednesday shows.
Dealing narcotics and amphetamine have dropped about a quarter each while dealing cannabis has dropped by a third.
Fewer people have also been caught in possession or using amphetamine over the last two years.
Violent crimes like murder, attempted murder, assault, armed robbery and sexual assault have roughly trended down since around 2003 and 2004.
The upward trend follows an overall decrease of drug charges across the state with dealing of narcotics and amphetamine dropping about a quarter each while dealing cannabis has dropped by a third
Dealing narcotics and amphetamine have dropped about a quarter each while dealing cannabis has dropped by a third.
Indecent and sexual assaults also jumped in some greater Sydney suburbs by between 30 and 46 per cent while much of the rest of the state remained stable.
Mr Grant commended people who reported the crime and allowed police to hold perpetrators to account.
The last five years have seen murder drop by 14 per cent, robbery with a firearm drop over 20 per cent and robbery without a weapon go down by 12.5 per cent.