Houghton’s unit, which comprises RCMP and provincial and municipal police, was involved last year in dismantling what they called a major Canada-Australia drug network.
Dan Werb, director of the B.C.-based International Centre for Science in Drug Policy, said legalization of marijuana in some American states last year could have sparked an increase in Canadian drug activity elsewhere. Canadian-produced illegal marijuana is now facing intense competition from legal marijuana in those states, so dealers in Canada may be looking toward harsher drugs and other export markets, Werb said.
“What is happening to all those people who are involved in the illegal drug trade?” he said.
“People simply exiting the illegal drug trade? That’s probably unlikely. Are they potentially moving to other trafficking routes? Australia may be an attractive place.”’
Article Appeared @http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2014/08/31/australias_no_2_source_of_cocaine_first_being_chile_canada.html