Police seek drug chemical import changes

Police say a loophole in federal laws is allowing chemicals used by drug gangs to make amphetamines to be imported into Australia.

Fairfax reports the precursor chemicals are being legally brought into Australia even though it's illegal to possess them in most states under a series of local laws.

"We've got situations where some precursor chemicals are legal to come in, but once they're in Victoria and elsewhere, they become illegal because they're a (banned) drug," Victoria Police Superintendent Gerry Ryan has told Fairfax.

State authorities, the Australian Federal Police and Customs are preparing a proposal to the federal government to make the importation of the chemicals illegal, which would close the loophole.