What is a Marketable and Commercial Quantity of Drugs for Commonwealth Offences?

12/11/2019

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The Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) contains a range of offences relating to border controlled drugs, including drug importation / exportation, possessing unlawfully imported drugs and drug trafficking.

The maximum penalties that apply to these offences will depend on the pure weight of the drugs involved.

This is different to New South Wales offences, where the ‘admixture’ is relevant – which is the total weight of the substance, including impurities and fillers.

So, for example, if 2 kilograms of cocaine is imported at a 10% level of purity, the relevant weight for the purposes of Commonwealth offences will be 200 grams, whereas if 2 kilograms is supplied in NSW, the relevant weight for the purposes of state drug supply charges will be 2 kilograms.

Drug importation/exportation is an offence under section 307 of the Criminal Code Act, which carries the following maximum penalties:

Offence	Maximum Penalty
Importing/exporting a commercial quantity of drugs (Section 307.1)	Life imprisonment
Importing/exporting a marketable quantity of drugs (Section 307.2)	25 years imprisonment
Importing/exporting any quantity of drugs (Section 307.3)	10 years imprisonment

As can be seen, the maximum penalty differs based on the whether a commercial or marketable quantity is imported/exported.

An offence under section 307.3 is often charged when the prosecution is unable to prove the pure weight.

Below is the current table of commercial and pure weights of border controlled drugs in Australia.

Border controlled drugs and quantities
Item	Border controlled drug	Commercial quantity (kilograms)	Marketable quantity (grams)
1	Acetorphine	2.0	2.0
2	Acetyl-alpha-methylfentanyl	0.005	0.005
3	Acetylcodeine	2.0	2.0
4	Acetyldihydrocodeine	2.0	2.0
5	Acetylmethadol	2.0	2.0
6	Allylprodine	2.0	2.0
7	Alphacetylmethadol	10.0	10.0
8	Alphameprodine	0.2	0.2
9	Alphamethadol	0.2	0.2
10	alpha-Methylfentanyl	0.005	0.005
11	alpha-Methylthiofentanyl	0.005	0.005
12	Alphaprodine	25.0	25.0
13	3-(2-Aminopropyl)indole (alpha-methyltryptamine (AMT))	2.0	2.0
14	5-(2-Aminopropyl)-2,3-dihydro-1h-indene (5-APDI)	0.75	0.5
15	Amphecloral	2.0	2.0
16	Amphetamine	0.75	2.0
17	Anileridine	25.0	25.0
18	Barbiturates	5.0	50.0
19	Benzethidine	10.0	10.0
20	1-(Benzofuran-6-yl) propan-2-amine (6-APB)	0.75	0.5
21	Benzoylecgonine	2.0	2.0
22	Benzylmorphine	5.0	5.0
23	Benzylpiperazine	0.75	2.0
24	Betacetylmethadol	5.0	5.0
25	beta-Hydroxyfentanyl	0.005	0.005
26	beta-Hydroxy-3-methylfentanyl	0.005	0.005
27	beta-Keto-N-methyl-3,4-benzodioxyolylbutanamine (butylone)	0.75	2.0
28	Betameprodine	5.0	5.0
29	Betamethadol	5.0	5.0
30	Betaprodine	5.0	5.0
31	Bezitramide	5.0	5.0
32	4-Bromo-2,5-dimethoxyamphetamine	0.5	0.5
33	2-(4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-[(2-methoxyphenyl) methyl]ethanamine (25-B-NBOMe)	0.002	0.002
34	Bufotenine	2.0	2.0
35	Cannabinoids (other than a Cannabinoid of a kind that can be obtained from a plant that is not a Cannabis plant)	2.0	2.0
36	Cannabis (in any form, including flowering or fruiting tops, leaves, seeds or stalks, but not including Cannabis resin or Cannabis fibre)	100.0	25,000.0
37	Cannabis resin	50.0	20.0
38	Cathinone	0.75	2.0
39	1-(4-Chloro-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-ethenamine (2C-C)	0.5	0.5
40	2-(4-chloro-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-[(2-methoxyphenyl) methyl]ethanamine (25-C-NBOMe)	0.002	0.002
41	Chlorphentermine	2.0	2.0
42	Clonitazene	5.0	5.0
43	Cocaine	2.0	2.0
44	Codeine	10.0	10.0
45	Codeine-N-oxide	10.0	10.0
46	Codoxime	10.0	10.0
47	Desomorphine	2.0	2.0
48	Dexamphetamine	2.0	2.0
49	Dextromoramide	2.0	2.0
50	Diampromide	5.0	5.0
51	Diethylpropion (N, N-Diethylcathinone)	5.0	5.0
52	Diethylthiambutene	5.0	5.0
53	N,N-Diethyltryptamine	2.0	2.0
54	Difenoxin	2.0	2.0
55	Dihydrocodeine	10.0	10.0
56	Dihydromorphine	10.0	10.0
57	Dimenoxadol	10.0	10.0
58	Dimepheptanol	10.0	10.0
59	2,5-Dimethoxy-4-bromophenethylamine (2C-B)	0.5	0.5
60	2,5-Dimethoxy-4-(n)-butylthiophenethylamine (2C-T-9)	0.5	0.5
61	2,5-Dimethoxy-4-ethylphenethylamine (2C-E)	0.5	0.5
62	2,5-Dimethoxy-4-ethylthiophenethylamine (2C-T-2)	0.5	0.5
63	2,5-Dimethoxy-4-iodophenethylamine (2C-I)	0.5	0.5
64	2,5-Dimethoxy-4-(β-isobutylthio)phenethylamine (2C-T-17)	0.5	0.5
65	2,5-Dimethoxy-4-isopropylthiophenethylamine (2C-T-4)	0.5	0.5
66	2,5-Dimethoxy-4-(β-methoxyethylthio)phenethylamine (2C-T-13)	0.5	0.5
67	2,5-Dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine (STP, DOM)	0.75	2.0
68	2,5-Dimethoxy-4-methylphenethylamine (2C-D)	0.5	0.5
69	2,5-Dimethoxy-4-nitrophenethylamine (2C-N)	0.5	0.5
70	2,5-Dimethoxy-4-(n)-propylphenethylamine (2C-P)	0.5	0.5
71	2,5-Dimethoxy-4-n-propylthiophenethylamine (2C-T-7)	0.5	0.5
72	2-(2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-[(2-methoxyphenyl)methyl] ethanamine (25-H-NBOMe)	0.002	0.002
73	1-Dimethylamino-1,2-diphenylethane	5.0	5.0
74	1,1-Dimethylheptyl-11-hydroxytetrahydrocannabinol (HU-210)	5.0	2.0
75	Dimethylthiambutene	20.0	20.0
76	N,N-Dimethyltryptamine	2.0	2.0
77	Dioxaphetyl butyrate	2.0	2.0
78	Diphenoxylate	2.0	2.0
79	Dipipanone	10.0	10.0
80	Drotebanol	2.0	2.0
81	Ecgonine	10.0	10.0
82	Ethchlorvynol	50.0	50.0
83	Ethinamate	50.0	50.0
84	Ethylmethylthiambutene	10.0	10.0
85	Ethylmorphine	2.0	2.0
86	Etonitazene	5.0	5.0
87	Etorphine	5.0	5.0
88	Etoxeridine	5.0	5.0
89	Fentanyl	0.005	0.005
90	4-Fluoro-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine (2C-F)	0.5	0.5
91	4-(2-Fluoroethylthio)-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine (2C-T-21)	0.5	0.5
92	1-(5-fluoropentyl)-3-(2-iodobenzyl)indole (AM-694)	5.0	2.0
93	Furethidine	1.0	1.0
94	Gammabutyrolactone (GBL)	1.0	2.0
95	Glutethimide	50.0	50.0
96	Harmaline	5.0	2.0
97	Harmine	5.0	2.0
98	Heroin (diacetylmorphine)	1.5	2.0
99	Hydrocodone	2.0	2.0
100	Hydromorphinol	2.0	2.0
101	Hydromorphone	2.0	2.0
102	Hydroxyamphetamine	2.0	2.0
103	4-Hydroxybutanoic acid (GHB)	1.0	2.0
104	2-[(1R,3S)-3-hydroxycyclohexyl]-5- (2-methyloctan-2-yl)phenol (CP 47,497)	5.0	2.0
105	2-[(1R,3S)-3-hydroxycyclohexyl]-5- (2-methylnonan-2-yl)phenol (CP 47,497-C8)	5.0	2.0
106	Hydroxypethidine	5.0	5.0
107	2-(4-iodo-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-[(2-methoxyphenyl) methyl]ethanamine (25-I-NBOMe)	0.002	0.002
108	Isomethadone	2.0	2.0
109	4-Isopropoxy-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine (2C-O-4)	0.5	0.5
110	Ketamine	1.0	3.0
111	Ketobemidone	2.0	2.0
112	Levomethorphan	2.0	2.0
113	Levophenacylmorphan	2.0	2.0
114	Levorphanol, but not including dextrorphan	1.0	1.0
115	Lysergamide	0.01	0.1
116	Lysergide (LSD)	0.002	0.002
117	Meprobamate	50.0	50.0
118	Mescaline	7.5	7.5
119	Metazocine	7.0	7.0
120	Methadone	2.0	2.0
121	Methamphetamine	0.75	2.0
122	Methaqualone	5.0	50.0
123	Methcathinone	0.75	2.0
124	Methorphan, but not including dextromethorphan	2.0	2.0
125	5-Methoxy-alpha-methyltryptamine (5-MeO-AMT)	2.0	2.0
126	4-Methoxyamphetamine	0.75	2.0
127	5-Methoxy-N,N-diisopropyltryptamine (5-MeO-DiPT)	2.0	2.0
128	4-Methoxymethamphetamine	0.75	2.0
129	2-(2-Methoxyphenyl)-1-(1-pentylindol-3-yl)ethanone (JWH-250)	5.0	2.0
130	4-Methylamphetamine	0.75	2.0
131	Methyldesorphine	2.0	2.0
132	Methyldihydromorphine	2.0	2.0
133	3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA)	0.75	0.5
134	3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)	0.5	0.5
135	3,4-Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV)	0.75	2.0
136	3-Methylfentanyl	0.005	0.005
137	4-Methylmethamphetamine	0.75	2.0
138	4-Methylmethcathinone (4-MMC)	0.75	2.0
139	Methylphenidate	2.0	2.0
140	1-Methyl-4-phenyl-4-propionoxypiperidine (MPPP)	2.0	2.0
141	4-Methylthio-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine (2C-T)	0.5	0.5
142	4-Methylthioamphetamine (4-MTA)	0.75	2.0
143	4-Methylthiobutylamphetamine (4-MTBA)	0.75	2.0
144	4-Methylthiodimethamphetamine (4-MTDMA)	0.75	2.0
145	4-Methylthioethylamphetamine (4-MTEA)	0.75	2.0
146	3-Methylthiofentanyl	0.005	0.005
147	4-Methylthiomethamphetamine (4-MTMA)	0.75	2.0
148	4-Methylthiopropylamphetamine (4-MTPA)	0.75	2.0
149	Methyprylon	50.0	50.0
150	Metopon	2.0	2.0
151	Monoacetylmorphines	2.0	2.0
152	Moramide	2.0	2.0
153	Morphan, but not including dextrorphan	2.0	2.0
154	Morpheridine	2.0	2.0
155	Morphine	1.5	2.0
156	Morphine-N-oxide	2.0	2.0
157	(1-(2-Morpholin-4-ylethyl)indol-3-yl)-napthalen-1- ylmethanone (JWH-200)	5.0	2.0
158	Myrophine	20.0	20.0
159	Napthalen-1-yl-(1-butylindol-3-yl)methanone (JWH-073)	5.0	2.0
160	Nicocodine	2.0	2.0
161	Nicodicodine	2.0	2.0
162	Nicomorphine	2.0	2.0
163	Noracymethadol	2.0	2.0
164	Norcodeine	2.0	2.0
165	Norlevorphanol	2.0	2.0
166	Normethadone	5.0	5.0
167	Normorphine	20.0	20.0
168	Norpipanone	10.0	10.0
169	Opium	20.0	20.0
170	Oripavine	2.0	2.0
171	Oxycodone	5.0	5.0
172	Oxymorphone	2.0	2.0
173	para-Fluorofentanyl	0.005	0.005
174	Pentazocine	20.0	20.0
175	1-Pentyl-3-(1-napthoyl)indol (JWH-018)	5.0	2.0
176	1-Pentyl-3-(4-methyl-1-napthoyl)indole (JWH-122)	5.0	2.0
177	Pethidine	10.0	10.0
178	Phenadoxone	10.0	10.0
179	Phenampromide	10.0	10.0
180	Phenazocine	1.0	1.0
181	Phencyclidine	2.0	2.0
182	Phendimetrazine	5.0	5.0
183	Phenmetrazine	5.0	5.0
184	Phenomorphan	5.0	5.0
185	Phenoperidine	1.0	1.0
186	Phentermine	5.0	5.0
187	1-Phenylethyl-4-phenyl-4-acetoxypiperidine (PEPAP)	2.0	2.0
188	Pholcodine	5.0	5.0
189	Piminodine	10.0	10.0
190	Pipradrol	1.0	1.0
191	Piritramide	1.0	1.0
192	Proheptazine	1.0	1.0
193	Properidine	25.0	25.0
194	Propiram	10.0	10.0
195	Psilocine	0.1	0.1
196	Psilocybine	0.1	0.1
197	Pyrovalerone	0.75	2.0
198	Tetrahydrocannabinols (THC)	5.0	2.0
199	Thebacon	2.0	2.0
200	Thebaine	2.0	2.0
201	Thiofentanyl	0.005	0.005
202	Trimeperidine	10.0	10.0
203	2,3,4-Trimethoxyamphetamine	0.75	2.0
204	2,3,5-Trimethoxyamphetamine	0.75	2.0
205	2,3,6-Trimethoxyamphetamine	0.75	2.0
206	2,4,5-Trimethoxyamphetamine	0.75	2.0
207	2,4,6-Trimethoxyamphetamine	0.75	2.0
208	3,4,5-Trimethoxyamphetamine	0.75	2.0
209	2,4,5-Trimethoxyphenethylamine (2C-O)	0.5	0.5

Going to Court for a Commonwealth Drug Offence?

If you or a loved-one has been charged with a drug offence under the Criminal Code Act such as drug importation, possessing an unlawfully imported drug or drug trafficking, call Sydney Criminal Lawyers anytime to arrange a first appointment at our offices or in custody.

Our experienced team of specialist drug defence lawyers has an exceptional track record of getting charges withdrawn due to insufficient or unreliable evidence, or available defences, and thrown out of court when cases proceed to defended hearings or jury trials.

Last updated on 27 Nov 2020