Northern Territory Police have seized illicit drugs, cash and weapons during a week-long nation-wide operation to target and disrupt the supply within the community.
Operation Vitreus was coordinated by the National Methylamphetamine Strategy Group, which is currently lead by Western Australia Police (WAPOL), but involved all State and Territory Police agencies, working in conjunction with the Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force (ABF), the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, AUSTRAC, Australian Taxation Office and the New Zealand Police.
Search warrants were carried out nationally resulting in a total of 272 arrests and 659 charges.
These operations also resulting in the seizure of approximately 3.5kg of Methylamphetamine, 18.2kg of Cannabis, 2kg of Steroids, 863 tablets of LSD, 3442 tablets/capsules of MDMA, 423g of MDMA powder and approximately 13g of Heroin.
Other seizures included cannabis seeds, Ketamine, Synthetic Cannabis and Dimethyltryptamine.
A number of enforcement strategies took place with Northern Territory Police conducting search warrants, screening mail and freight and screening vehicles and people on board.
The operation resulted in 29 charges laid, nine arrests, four people were issues with a Drug Infringement Notice and one person was issued with a Notice to Appear. Drugs seized throughout the operation included LSD, Methylamphetamine, Cannabis and MDMA.
This week-long effort is another example of law enforcement agencies working together in a coordinated fashion to disrupt the supply of methylamphetamine and other illicit drugs in the community.
Detective Acting Superintendent Karen Sanderson “A majority of drugs we see come from interstate or overseas.
“This Operation was one in which we were connected as part of a much larger network and able to disrupt the supply before it hit our communities.
“As much as these week-long efforts are good in tackling drug distribution and assist us in building our networks, NT Police work hard on a daily basis trying to stop drugs and we do rely on the community to assist us in these efforts.
“Anyone can Dob-in-a-Dealer by calling Police on 131 444 or providing information anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.”
