“Australia’s surge in cocaine use is being fuelled by highly sophisticated importations by one of the most brutal and powerful syndicates involved in Mexico’s drug war – the Sinaloa cartel.

Police intelligence sources have told the ABC’s 7.30 Report that around half the cocaine now entering Australia is being sent from Mexico, and that the notorious Sinaloa cartel is behind many of the shipments.

The Sinaloa cartel has had operatives in Australia for several years according to the source, and was behind a number of significant cocaine hauls intercepted by Australian authorities.

According to the Australian Crime Commission, the much higher price of cocaine in Australia has made importations here highly profitable.

“If we have a kilo of wholesale cocaine in Colombia it’s worth about $2,100. If that cocaine is successfully imported into Mexico it’s worth $12,500. If that finds its way to the US it’s worth $28,500. But if it finds its way to Australia it’s worth $146,000 – an increase of more than 7,000 per cent in profit,” Mr Lawler told the ABC.

http://www.borderlandbeat.com/2010/09/mexican-drug-cartel-infiltrates.html