Police in remote Territory towns have been busy over the last week, apprehending several people in relation to the unlawful possession of drugs and alcohol.

On Friday 19 March, police in Maningrida received information from a member of the public which resulted in police attending a house at Jinka Outstation (approximately 30 km's east of Maningrida).

Members conducted a search of the residence and subsequently located over 15 litres of home brew alcohol and three 700 ml bottles of spirits.

All of the alcohol was seized, liquor permits were revoked and three offenders are to be summonsed for liquor offences and are to appear in court at a later date.

Jabiru Police and members from the Substance Abuse Intelligence Desk (SAID) attended the Jabiru Airport yesterday morning after receiving information about possible drug and kava trafficking.

A search of passengers was conducted, locating 10 shopping bags, containing hundreds of individual bags of Kava, with a total weight of 28 kg's. A 500 ml bottle of alcohol and a number of smoking implements were also located.

A female and male aged 42 and 43 are to be summonsed for the offences.

The seized kava has a street value of about $70 000 if sold in remote communities.

Superintendent Colin Smith from Katherine Police Station said "In addition to local police we also have SAID police officers actively targeting drug, alcohol and kava traffickers' right across the Katherine & Northern Region and any person that chooses to engage in this unlawful activity will be apprehended and put before the courts".

Superintendent Helen Braam of the Northern Operational Service Division also stated "Once again we'd like to thank members of the public who have stepped forward and provided us with this information. It is so important that community members work with police to keep us all safe".


Media contact:
Amy Sloan
8922 3531