Trafficking in multiple commodities: Exposing Australia's poly-drug and poly-crime networks

It has been long recognised that illicit drug traffickers can and do trade in multiple drugs. For example, more than ten years ago, Australian law enforcement agencies highlighted the “convergence of criminal networks and, concomitant to this, poly-drug trafficking” and the challenges this may bring to drug law enforcement and the broader community (Gordon, 2001, p. 22). Yet, research and policy tend to focus on single illicit drug markets alone. Yet, the extent, nature and implications of an inter-connected marketplace are not well understood. In light of increasing evidence that in comparison with their mono-drug counter-parts, poly-drug traffickers may be more resilient, adaptable and harmful, this project starts to examine Australia’s poly-drug and poly-crime traffickers.