Members of the Katherine Substance Abuse Intelligence Desk, Drug Enforcement Section, Drug Dog Operations Unit and police from Katherine, Adelaide River and Pine Creek conducted a drug and traffic campaign last night on the Stuart Highway at Adelaide River.

At about midnight members apprehended a brown Landcruiser with four occupants, two males and two females. A search was conducted and Drug Detector Dog Leo gave a positive reaction to the front passenger seat.

A small handbag was located under the front passenger seat that contained four tightly wrapped packages of cannabis in duct tape with a total of 90 grams of cannabis seized along with approximately 400 unused small deal size clip seal bags.

A 41-year-old female passenger will be summonsed to appear in the Katherine Court for possess trafficable quantity of cannabis and supply to another.

The 50-year-old male driver was breath tested and conveyed to the Adelaide River Police Station where he returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.122 percent. He was charged with driving with medium range blood alcohol content and driving while disqualified and bailed to appear in the Darwin Magistrate's Court next month.

The seized drugs were destined to be sold in the community of Numbulwar and had an estimated street value of approximately $18 000.

Acting Superintendent Steve Heyworth said, "This is another good result from the on-going partnership with the federal government and FAHCSIA in tackling substance abuse in remote communities of the Northern Territory."

"These drugs were destined for distribution in a remote East Arnhem community. We have a committed team of officers who will turn up in remote areas and along major highways at all hours of the day and night to target the grog and drug runners who feed off other people's habits and cause social disruption to remote communities, "he said.


Media contact:
Sue Bradley
8922 3185