A 50-year-man has been charged with a drug offence, following the seizure of more than 35kg of kava in Gove last night.

Senior Sergeant Brendan Muldoon, Officer in Charge of Nhulunbuy Police Station, said Police attended the local airport at around 8pm last night to conduct baggage checks on flights arriving from interstate.

“Police stopped a man who was acting suspiciously and searched his two suitcases, one of which had been left unattended on the baggage carousel,” Senior Sergeant Muldoon said.

“Members located 36.5kg of kava divided into 585 deal bags. The man was arrested and charged this morning with possess trafficable quantity of kava.”

He was bailed to appear in Gove Court on Wednesday 7 August 2013.