Police have seized over $12,600 worth of cannabis at Darwin Airport this week, courtesy of the Dog Operations Unit (DOU).
The DOU conducted screenings at Murin Air on flights bound for Wadeye on Tuesday 29 and Wednesday 30 November.
On Tuesday, a 29 year-old woman travelling with her nine year-old child was identified as a person of interest in relation to cannabis transportation.
The child’s back pack was searched, revealing 10 clip seal bags of cannabis, approximately six (6) grams in weight, hidden in the child’s Dora The Explorer underwear.
A further search of the woman’s handbag revealed eight (8) clip seal bags of cannabis, and another separate bag of loose cannabis weighing approximately 17.6 grams in total. The net total of this seizure was 23.6 grams, with a potential value of $2,360 if sold in communities.
Investigations are continuing, and the woman is expected to be summonsed to appear in Court at a later date.
Later that day, Police located cannabis in two freight items;
- 10 clip seal bags of cannabis in electrical tape were located in a pair of cargo pants (9.5grams), and
- 36 clip seal bags of cannabis divided into three (3) packages hidden inside a box of KFC.
The packages were also wrapped in electrical tape and hidden inside the coleslaw, potato and gravy and chips; the approximate weight being 43.6 grams. Police are making enquiries to establish the ownership of the cannabis.
On Wednesday, Drug Detector Dog, Nugget, had a positive reaction to a blue sports bag owned by a 27 year-old woman.
Two packages wrapped in electrical tape were located; one containing 15 clip seal bags of cannabis (17.75 grams), and a second containing 55 clip seal bags of cannabis (32.3 grams). The total approximate weight is 50.05 grams with a value of $5,000 if sold in remote communities.
The woman is expected to be summonsed to appear in Court at a later date.
Senior Sergeant Clint Sims continues to be disappointed with the constant attempts at drug trafficking to remote communities.
“Seizures such as this continue to highlight the consistent need for Police to be vigilant, and justifies conducting random searches on flights all across the Territory. I am pleased with the outcomes of these seizures; however, we are yet to establish the fast-food drug fiend. If you plan to transport and distribute illegal drugs, we will find you.”
Media Contact:
Lisa Hutton
8985 8835
0427 660 594
