Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett is urging a public dialogue on the role of illicit drug demand in fueling organized crime and violence across Australia. Barrett highlighted the significant profits generated by drug trafficking, which she stated are driving disputes and violent incidents, including mistaken identity shootings.

"Australians take too many illicit drugs, and it is absurd how much money users are willing to pay for them," Barrett said. She noted that while law enforcement agencies internationally, including those within the Five Eyes network (Australia, US, UK, Canada, and New Zealand), struggle to capture public attention on this issue, recent violent events in Australia may make the public more receptive to the conversation.

The AFP Commissioner emphasized that the issue extends beyond any single state, describing it as an "Australian problem." She pointed to the violence as a direct result of organized crime groups, both domestic and international, vying for control of the lucrative illicit drug market. These groups, she stated, are willing to resort to extreme violence to maintain their dominance, with ordinary citizens sometimes caught in the crossfire.

Barrett also identified several evolving threats contributing to the complexity of combating organized crime:

  • The proliferation of more potent and dangerous synthetic drugs.
  • The increasing convergence between state actors and organized crime, posing a greater national security risk.
  • The potential for Artificial Intelligence to be used by criminal organizations to evade law enforcement.
  • A growing trend of onshore and offshore gangs employing Australian youth, some as young as teenagers, for criminal activities, leading to more reckless behavior.
  • The rising challenge of illicit commodities being trafficked to and through the Pacific region.

Since becoming Commissioner in October 2025, Barrett has outlined five key priorities for the AFP, including defending Australia's domestic security and its region, protecting vulnerable communities, future-proofing the workforce, investing in technology, and enhancing global operations. The latter involves collaborating with international partners to target offshore offenders and disrupt drug supply chains at their source.

Barrett referenced the case of Kaz Hamad, a former Melbourne underworld figure sentenced in Iraq for drug trafficking, as an example of successful international cooperation. She stressed that while the "war on drugs" has been a long-standing challenge, the AFP cannot afford to disengage. The commissioner believes that reducing demand through community education and support, and refusing to normalize illicit drug use, are crucial steps to safeguarding families and weakening organized crime syndicates. She called for a societal effort to address the issue.