13/10/2026
Illicit to***co is not just a retail issue. It's an organised crime issue!
The Australian Federal Police Association (AFPA) supports ACT Legislative Assembly Petition E-PET-091-26, calling for stronger laws and enforcement against the illegal to***co trade in Canberra.
For too long, the AFPA has raised concerns about the growing influence of serious and organised crime in the ACT and the need to give police stronger powers to disrupt criminal enterprises.
The illegal to***co trade is not a victimless crime. It generates significant profits for criminal networks, undermines legitimate businesses and creates risks for the wider community.
We've seen the consequences interstate, including violence, intimidation and firebombings linked to the illicit to***co market. Canberra cannot afford to become an attractive market for the same criminal activity.
The petition calls for tougher penalties, stronger licensing requirements, proactive compliance operations, powers to close offending businesses and greater accountability for landlords who knowingly facilitate illegal to***co sales.
The AFPA supports these measures as part of a broader response to serious and organised crime.
Stronger legislation must also be backed by properly resourced enforcement agencies, including ACT Policing, to identify, investigate and disrupt the criminal networks profiting from these activities.
The ACT Government must act before organised crime becomes further entrenched in our community.
Read and support the petition: https://loom.ly/8P_jr-E