running a service which used ride-share drivers to deliver cocaine<\/a> and other drugs to inner-city nightclubs on order.<\/p>\nSome dealers have been busted with small wireless payment devices used to service clients cash free.<\/p>\n
Sources say dealers to the social set will be rubbing their hands together in anticipation of a boost in business as the warmer months arrive.<\/p>\n
A well-connected figure said corporate footy finals functions and the spring racing carnival presented rich pickings.<\/p>\n
Not that consumption is confined to the big event circuit.<\/p>\n
Those at a picnic race meeting in country Victoria saw the cocaine culture in full swing last summer.<\/p>\n
There, a large group gathered for a celebration were openly hoovering up powder, seeming not to care who saw it. <\/p>\n
Later, they headed back to town and congregated at an inner-suburban hotel where a large suite had been organised for the after-party.<\/p>\n
One person among them estimated only a handful of the 40-odd people gathered were not on the coke.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was like the Wolf of Wall St,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Some users are so blas\u00e9 about the drug and its apparent social acceptability that they will openly snort it in CBD pubs and clubs.<\/p>\n
A company director said he had lost count of the number of times his counterparts offered him a \u201cbump\u201d while doing business.<\/p>\n
A celebrity chef with national profile surprised some fellow revellers on a recent night with his candid consumption. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe pulled it out like it was a bag of Nobby\u2019s Nuts after a few drinks,\u201d the source said.<\/p>\n
Sources say a prominent fitness influencer is known to regularly put aside her public commitment to good health and \u201cget on the bags\u201d.<\/p>\n
Cocaine has also moved in on parental get-togethers.<\/p>\n
While grog was once the social lubricant at school functions, coke has become more common, according to several parents.<\/p>\n
They said they had noticed its increased consumption at things like adult trivia nights and other fundraisers.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow do people afford to do this shit?\u201d one parent said. <\/p>\n
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett this week said \u201cabsurd\u201d amounts of cash were involved in drug markets, with major side effects.<\/p>\n
\u201cPart of the conversation needs to be collectively louder about the dangers of illicit drug use and linking it to the organised crime violence in our communities and the impact it is having on our national security,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy posture is not to be confused with criticisms of any individual, policies or decisions, it is firmly about injecting some energy and focus on what the community needs to know and understand about organised crime.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Cocaine consumption in Melbourne has surged six-fold in the past decade amid what police say is a 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