Iranian meth imports to Australia are rising. Experts say some can be linked to this bush

An evergreen shrub that grows in the mountains of central Afghanistan is causing major problems for those battling to stop methamphetamines hitting the streets in Australia, experts say.

The ephedra plant, known locally as oman, had previously only been used for firewood.

But now it is being taken across the Afghan border to Iran where drug manufacturers are extracting ephedrine, a key precursor chemical used in the drug ice.

Since 2018, there has been a boom in…