Police in conjunction with Crime Stoppers jurisdictions across Australia have joined forces in a nationwide campaign against illegal drugs.

People from all walks of life are being asked to ring Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 on 19 November for the national "say something day" if they have any information on illicit drugs in the community.

This is the first time police and Crime Stoppers have adopted a single national approach to fight the importation, manufacture and distribution of drugs particularly amphetamines in Australia.

Current Australian Crime Commission data places the cost of illicit drugs at over $10 billion annually in social costs, which includes the cost of hospitalisation and rehabilitation from public violence, death and injury including lost days at work. Added to this is the actual cost of the illicit drugs themselves.

Superintendent Matt Hollamby said there has been an increase in small backyard clandestine laboratories in the NT including one discovery last week.

"Most backyard drug labs are not fancy or elaborate set-ups and can be relatively small. Drugs produced in these labs are made in unhygienic conditions by people who have no training in chemistry."

"This Crime Stoppers campaign gives the community the opportunity to say no to organised crime groups profiting from ordinary Australians."

The Operation Unification campaign has been launched simultaneously today in every Australian capital city and culminates in the "Say Something" phone-in day on Friday, 19 November.

Rickie Scoot

8922 3185