A 20-year-old man has been charged in relation to drug offences after Drug Detector Dog (DDD) Viper located $30,000 worth of cannabis in his bags at the Darwin International Airport yesterday.

Acting Sergeant David Young from the Dog Operations Unit said DDD Viper provided a positive indication while walking past a check-in counter.

“We were on our way through the Airport to conduct a random search of a flight when DDD Viper provided a strong response approximately 20 metres away from the check-in counter. I knew DDD Viper was onto something when he led me over to a man who was in the process of checking in and sat at his bags.

“After a search of the man’s bag we located six packages concealed inside a red toy double decker bus. The packages contained a combined total of 248 grams of cannabis, including 50 deal bags. A further two packages were found concealed inside a red toy microwave oven. A total of 357.1 grams of cannabis was located.

“The cannabis has an estimated street value of at least $30,000 if it had been sold in Maningrida, where we believe it was destined to be sold.

“The man was arrested and charged with possess and supply a trafficable quantity of cannabis. He was bailed to appear in court at a later date.

“Our Drug Detector Dogs are highly trained to find drugs. As long as people continue to try and conceal drugs, our drug dogs will continue to find them. Drugs secreted by perfumes, food, powders, clothes, cryovaced and wrapped in layers of tape, we have seen it all and seized it all too.

“NT Police are committed to keeping people safe and preventing drugs from entering our communities, so random searches such as this will continue on a regular basis,” said Acting Sergeant David Young.

**Media Note – If using attached photos please credit NT Police.

Media Contact
Sarah Trinne
8985 8835