Northern Territory Police have arrested a 28-year-old man in relation to the seizure of 4.5 kilograms of the drug Ethylone.

Acting Commander Tony Fuller said the drug was similar in property to MDMA (ecstasy)

“Ethylone, or ‘Eve’, is a controlled analogue of a schedule 2 drug.”

Acting Commander Fuller said the man was arrested following information received.

“Police from the Drug and Organised Crime Squad followed the man to his residence where a search warrant was executed.

“Police uncovered three separate packages of the drug, three mobile phones and four forged driving licences.”

“These drugs were in raw form and we would expect that they would have been processed into potentially 50,000 pills.”

“Depending on how they were processed and in what form they were sold, the potential value, conservatively, is between $500,000 and $2,000,000.”

“Inquiries into the origin of these drugs are continuing.” Acting Commander Fuller said.

“Police again warn members of the public that these drugs can contain unknown ingredients, are often produced in non-sterile conditions and can result in serious side-effects, even death.

“We urge anyone with information on the sale or distribution of illicit drugs to contact the Police Assistance Line on 131 444 or call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.”

The man has been charged with possess commercial quantity of a schedule 2 dangerous drug.

He was remanded in custody to appear in the Darwin Magistrates Court today.