EXCLUSIVE: Why cocaine dealers know tonight is one of their biggest of the year – as text messages offer cut-price specials to cash in on a rare mid-week party: ‘Buy four… get one free’
- Cheap cocaine sold ahead of major sporting events
- Sydney is Australia’s biggest cocaine market, according to wastewater testing
- Drug syndicates paying upwards of $160,000 a kilo for cocaine
Australia has some of the most expensive cocaine in the world, but dealers deliberately slash the price for a standard bag of the drug whenever the State of Origin is on.
Cocaine typically sells for between $300 and $350 a gram in Sydney, but text messages obtained by Daily Mail Australia show the drug will be available for as low as $200 on State of Origin night.
The reason dealers cut the price is to cash in on fans out on the town on a rare Wednesday night.
The latest Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission report on wastewater found Sydney is the biggest market for cocaine in Australia, with the drug often delivered faster than a pizza.
Despite police targeting the drug, cocaine use rose significantly between August and December 2022 to become the fourth most commonly abused substance, behind cannabis, alcohol and tobacco.
The price for a bag of cocaine on State of Origin night goes for as little as $200. (Pictured: the contents of a dealer’s car during a police arrest)
A person is arrested in a police operation into the supply and distribution of cocaine and other illicit drugs across Sydney
While it’s no secret Sydney is the cocaine capital of Australia, use is also high in Melbourne and even Hobart. (This is a stock image and there is no suggestion the models pictured use drugs)
Text messages seen by Daily Mail Australia reveal opportunistic drug-peddlers offering major discounts to mark the major rugby league event.
‘Hey hey! Send through a text for origin tonight,’ said one message received in May ahead of the first game.
‘Last night at 200 each back to normal after tonight xx up the blues !!’
The same dealer was marketing discounts in June ahead of Game 2, while throwing support behind their team.
‘Origin deals on for tonight’s game send through a message to see up the f*cken blues!!’
Daily Mail Australia has also seen texts from another dealer on Wednesday, ahead of game three at Accord Stadium, titled ‘State of Origin Specials’.
‘Be sure not to miss out … bigger the order, bigger the discount. Buy four get one free. PS: Go the Blues.’
Cocaine in Sydney is sold upwards of $300, but dial-a-dealers are offering $200 origin deals
Here are more texts from another coke dealer hawking ‘state of origin specials’ for game three
While it’s no secret Sydney is the cocaine capital of Australia, use is also high in Melbourne and even Hobart.
Sydney dealers aren’t the only ones profiting from cocaine sales off the back of major sporting events.
A well-known Melbourne watering hole, with links to former and current AFL players, offers its patrons a hassle-free way to obtain drugs before a match.
‘Patrons in the know are asked by the owner whether they’re in for a bag,’ one well-placed source explained.
‘He floats around like he’s selling meat tray raffle tickets, and when the delivery arrives, he hands it to you inside a folded bar menu.’
Australian organised crime gangs pay about about $160,000 per kilogram bag of cocaine.
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