Katherine Police have charged a 37-year-old man with Possess and Supply a Commercial Quantity of Kava following the seizure of 294 kilograms of the drug.

Maranboy Police stopped a vehicle at a random breath testing station on the Central Arnhem Road at about 4.15pm yesterday afternoon.

Superintendent Kylie Proctor from the Katherine Police Station said the Officers searched the vehicle and discovered four large bags full of kava.

“Police will allege the total amount of kava discovered in the vehicle weighed in at 294.78 kilograms, pre-packed in individual bags.”

Superintendent Proctor said the kava could have fetched an estimated $550,000 if sold in the remote communities of Arnhem Land.

"This is a potentially significant amount of money coming out of the community and directly into the pockets of the criminals supplying this product.

"Police will continue to target kava runners across the Top End because of the devastating effect it has on our communities."

The man was remanded in custody to appear in the Darwin Magistrates court on 9 January.