Members of Katherine's Substance Abuse Intelligence Desk, the Dog Operations Unit and Pine Creek police conducted a road block near the Pine Creek turn-off last night and detected nine people allegedly transporting Cannabis.
The combined operation using the drug detection dogs was aimed at detecting drugs destined for remote communities.
Superintendent Col Smith said the road block was conducted on the Stuart Highway and six vehicles were found to contain Cannabis.
Eighty grams of cannabis were found in the engine bay of a Ford Falcon station wagon when it was searched just before 8pm last night. A 46-year-old woman will appear in court charged with possessing and supply a traffickable quantity of a Schedule 2 substance.
A Mitsubishi Pajero was found to contain a total of 50 grams of Cannabis when it was searched around 10.30pm. A 51-year-old woman and a 52-year-old man will be summonsed for possessing and supplying a dangerous drug.
Around 11.30pm a 45-year-old man was found in possession of 132 grams of Cannabis after his Mitsubishi Pajero was search. Police found the Cannabis hidden inside tubs of flour. The man will face court for possessing a traffickable quantity of Cannabis and supplying Cannabis.
Three other cars were searched and found to contain Cannabis resulting in two men aged 23 and 20 being issued with drug infringement notices after police found 1.5 grams of Cannabis in their backpacks.
A 21-year-old man was also issued with a drug infringement notice after police found 14 grams of Cannabis, and a 55-year-old woman was issued with a drug infringement notice after police found .5 grams of cannabis in her handbag.
Supt Smith said the Operation was aimed at detecting and seizing drugs bound for remote Aboriginal Communities.
"We believe most of the drugs seized were destined for remote communities and the Operation should serve as a reminder to those trying to bring in grog or drugs that the drug dogs and members of the Substance Abuse Intelligence Desk will continue to target these offenders."
Media contact:
Theresa Kuilboer
8922 3531
