Members of the Substance Abuse Intelligence Desk (SAID) were part of a 20-man team who took part in a two-day operation targeting drugs and grog destined for remote communities.

Senior Constable Adam Van Oosten of the SAID said police established road blocks on the Tanami Highway and Larapinta Drive and pulled over hundreds of cars for RBTs and licence and registration checks over the two days.

"The operation ran on Thursday May 26 and Friday May 27 with its main aim being to deter grog and drug running and to catch drink drivers," Sen. Const Van Oosten said.

Members of the SAID, the Drug Intelligence Unit and the Dog Operations Unit from Alice Springs joined Hermannsburg Police and Southern Traffic operations members as well as members of the Remote Community Drug Desk from Darwin to man the checkpoints and pull over vehicles.

"During the two days we checked 321 drivers and vehicles and made six arrests," Sen. Const Van Oosten said.

"We also issued 16 traffic infringement notices and 14 drug infringement notices and eight cars were defected. We also seized $2385 in cash, 143.5 litres of alcohol and 367 grams of Cannabis.

"By putting road blocks on both Larapinta Drive and the Tanami Highway we effectively prevented any illegal substances being brought into communities accessed by these main roads over the space of two days.

"The Substance Abuse Intelligence Desk will continue to work closely with other sections of the police force to dismantle these networks of offenders who try to profit from selling these substances in remote communities."

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Theresa Kuilboer
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