The study develops criteria based on the antecedents of drug transit and identifies countries with different degrees of risk for the transshipment of illicit drugs to Australia. Factors affecting the establishment of drug transit points include: (1) strategic geographic position, variety of transport options and exit points, and porosity of the borders; (2) optimal political instability and corruption; (3) increasing trade and other traffic; (4) country of origin camouflage; (5) insecure commodity markets and transnational economies; and (6) global networks. Traffickers' choices of transit points could also be influenced by increasing privatization of infrastructure and services, deregulation, political and economic fragmentation, and the global spread of drugs production. In addition, the nature of trafficking is changing, as traffickers look to establish more alliances via the mechanism of corruption and to invest in more businesses or utilities which would provide a legitimate front for their activities. Figures, tables, notes