What is Drug Importation?
Trying to bring prohibited drugs into the country is a federal offence.
Certain drugs are border controlled, which means that if you attempt to bring them through customs in Australia, you will be committing an offence.
The exact penalty you will get depends on the type of drug and quantity, but imprisonment is the most common penalty for drug importation offences.
Penalties for drug importation offences depend on whether the quantity of drug found is considered a marketable quantity, or a commercial quantity.
Here are the quantities for the different types of border-controlled drugs:
Heroin:
- Marketable quantity is 2 grams – 1.5 kg,
- Commercial quantity is more than 1.5kg
Ecstasy:
- Marketable quantity is 0.5g – 500g,
- Commercial quantity is more than 500g
Amphetamines:
- Marketable quantity is 2g – 750g
- Commercial quantity is more than 750g
Cocaine:
- Marketable quantity is 2g – 2kg
- Commercial quantity is more than 2kg
Cannabis:
- Marketable quantity is 2.5kg – 100kg
- Commercial quantity is more than 100kg
The maximum penalties for importing drugs are:
- Importing or exporting controlled drug – maximum jail term of 10 years and/or maximum fine of $220,000
- Importing or exporting marketable quantity of a controlled drug – maximum jail term of 25 years and/or maximum fine of $550,000
- Importing or exporting commercial quantity of a controlled drugs – maximum jail term of life imprisonment and/or maximum fine of $825,000