Offences Involving Ice (NSW)
Ice is the common street name for Crystal Methamphetamine. Other popular street terms for Ice are Glass, Crystal, Crystal Meth, Quartz, Shardz and Base. Ice is a prohibited drug contained in Schedule 1 of the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 (NSW). The below offences are all applicable to an offence involving the prohibited drug, Ice.
Self-Administration of Ice
The offence of Self-Administration of Prohibited Drugs is contained in section 12 of the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 (NSW). This offence carries a maximum penalty of 2 years imprisonment and/or a fine of $2,200.
To convict a person of using a prohibited drug, the police must prove each of the following matters beyond a reasonable doubt:
- You administered; or
- attempted to administer;
- a prohibited drug;
- to yourself.
For more information about this offence, please visit Self-Administration of Prohibited Drugs.
Administration of Ice to others
The offence of Administration of Prohibited Drugs to Others is contained in section 13 of the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 (NSW). This offence carries a maximum penalty of 2 years imprisonment and/or a fine of $2,200.
To convict you of this charge, the prosecution must prove each of the following matters beyond a reasonable doubt:
- The substance is a prohibited drug; and
- The accused administered the prohibited drug to another person; or
- They attempted to administer the prohibited drug to another person
Possession of Ice
The offence of Possession of Prohibited Drug is contained in section 10 of the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 (NSW), it is an offence to possess a prohibited drug, including Ice. This offence carries a maximum penalty of 2 years imprisonment and/or a fine of $2,200.
To convict you of this charge, the prosecution must prove each of the following matters beyond a reasonable doubt:
- They had a prohibited drug in their possession, and
- They knew it was in their possession, or knew of its likely existence and nature, or believed that it was a prohibited drug.
For more information about this offence, please visit Possession of Prohibited Drugs.
Supply Ice
The offence of Supply of Prohibited Drugs is contained in section 25 of the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 (NSW). The maximum penalties for supply depend on the quantity and type of prohibited drug.
Where the amount of Ice exceeds the commercial quantity (0.25kg), this matter is strictly indictable which means that it can only be finalised in the District Court.
Where the amount of Ice does not exceed the commercial quantity but is more than a small quantity (3 grams), the matter is a Table 1 offence. This means that either the DPP or an accused can elect to have the matter dealt with in the District Court. If no election is made it will be dealt with in the Local Court.
Where the amount of Ice does not exceed the small quantity (1 gram), this matter is a Table 2 offence which means that the DPP can elect to have the matter dealt with in the District Court. If no election is made it will be dealt with in the Local Court.
For more information about this offence, please visit Supply Prohibited Drugs.
Manufacture and Production of Ice
The offence of Manufacture and Production of Prohibited Drug is contained in section 24 of the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 (NSW). This offence carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment and/or a fine of $220,000.
To convict a person of Manufacturing or Producing Prohibited Drugs, the prosecution must prove each of the following matters beyond a reasonable doubt:
- The substance is a prohibited drug; and
- The person manufactured or produced the prohibited drug; or
- The person knowingly took part in the manufacture or production of the prohibited drug.
For more information about this offence, please visit Manufacture and Production of Prohibited Drugs.
Importing and Exporting Ice
The offence of Importing and Exporting a border-controlled drug is contained in Division 307 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth). Crystal Methamphetamine falls under Schedule 2 which contains a list of border controlled drugs. The maximum penalty depends on the quantity of the drug as per below:
Quantity |
Amount |
Maximum Penalty |
| Importing or exporting marketable quantities of a border controlled drug | 250 g | 25 years and/or fine of $550,000 |
| Importing or exporting commercial quantities of a border controlled drug | 0.75 kg | Life imprisonment and/or $750,000 |
If you require legal advice or representation in any legal matter, please contact Armstrong Legal.
This article was written by Emily Wood-Ward
Emily Wood-Ward is a Criminal Lawyer based in Sydney bringing vast experience from working in both public and private practice. She has experience appearing and instructing counsel in the Local, District, Supreme and Coroners Courts of New South Wales. Emily has honed fierce advocacy skills from her experience working with incredibly vulnerable and disadvantaged clients whilst working for the Aboriginal...