He said drug supply is short in Australia because of strong enforcement and the country’s location — it is far from where cocaine is predominantly produced.
“The Australian police have been really successful in disrupting, suppressing criminal groups,” Houghton said.
Canadian traffickers affiliate themselves with local gangs, but sometimes rope in Canadian expatriates, Houghton said. Canadian drug runners have “significant connections” with Australian outlaw biker gangs and other criminal organizations, the Australian Crime Commission said.
To combat their operations, the RCMP said it holds joint investigations with Asian and Australian police. The Mounties also have a liaison based in Australia’s capital of Canberra and an intelligence analyst “out-posted” to Australian Federal Police, the Australian agency said.