Australians willing to pay for MDMA

WHAT IS MDMA?

* MDMA is a synthetic drug, better known as ecstasy or molly

* It is a stimulant that gives people who take it a rush within a relatively short period of time

* It can also cause people to hallucinate, sweat, have tremors or grind their teeth

* People have died from taking it

RECENT SEIZURES IN AUSTRALIA

* Australian and Dutch authorities on Friday announced they had seized 850kg of crystalline MDMA, along with 548 litres of MDMA oil and 400 litres of precursor chemicals

* That seizure is enough to make 15 million MDMA pills with a street value of more than $300 million

* It comes after a seizure of 776kg of MDMA on August 15 that police said at the time was linked to a UK-based drug syndicate

* Two men were charged earlier this year in Sydney over their alleged involvement in importing $900,000 worth of MDMA. Those drugs were concealed in water filters from Switzerland.

AUSTRALIA'S APPETITE FOR MDMA

* Authorities say Australia is a primary target in the global drug market

* An MDMA pill that would cost 20 cents in Amsterdam will fetch $20 in Australia

* Officials say Australians have an appetite for drugs and are willing to pay good money for them

WHERE DOES PILL TESTING FIT IN?

* There has been public discussion about pill testing at music festivals, following the deaths of a number of young people

* In Victoria, Premier Daniel Andrews has ruled out pill testing at music festivals, saying evidence shows doing so would be the wrong move

* But pill testing was recommended by the NSW coroner following an inquest into MDMA-related deaths music festivals

* After a massive seizure of crystalline MDMA authorities say was destined for Australia, Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton does not support pill testing