Three males aged 36, 29 and 32 have been charged following a routine search at Batchelor Airport yesterday.

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Mark Malogorski of Drug and Organised Crime Squad said members from Northern Substance Abuse Intelligence Desk (NSAID) and Dog Operations Unit (DOU) conducted routine patrols through Batchelor yesterday including Batchelor Airport.

“A screening of a charter plane was conducted and Drug Detector Dog Archie provided a positive response to the open door of the plane.

“Police located and seized 700grams of cannabis, four bottles of spirits and two premix spirit cans.

The three males were charged with:

Possess a commercial quantity of cannabis

Supply a commercial quantity of cannabis

Bring liquor into a restricted area

“If sold in a remote community the cannabis could have fetched around $70,000.

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Malogorski said Police will continue to target people who engage in drug supply into remote communities and exploit people for profit.

They were remanded and will appear in Darwin Magistrates Court later today.