Trafficking in dangerous drugs
Looking at sentencing outcomes between 1 July 2005 and 30 June 2016 for trafficking in a dangerous drug, our research found:
- a total of 2596 offenders were sentenced
- of these, 2498 offenders had trafficking in dangerous drugs as their most serious offence (MSO)
- the number of offenders sentenced for trafficking in dangerous drugs as their MSO increased each year from 2009–10
- the average age of offenders sentenced for drug trafficking was 34 years
- the majority of offenders sentenced for drug trafficking were male (83.7%)
- the majority of offenders sentenced for drug trafficking pleaded guilty (97.8%)
- the majority of adult offenders sentenced for drug trafficking received a custodial penalty (99.1%)
- The average prison sentence was 4.6 years
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders made up 5% of all sentenced offenders.