Media release

Charges – Drug offences – Gunbalanya

Police

Drug and Organised Crime Squad detectives have arrested and charged a 30-year-old male with offences relating to the supply of drugs to an Indigenous community.

The male allegedly transported cannabis to Gunbalanya on a number of occasions between August 2018 and January 2019, and recruited a 26-year-old male to sell cannabis on his behalf in the community.

The 26-year-old accepted payment from community members on a portable EFTPOS machine provided by the 30-year-old. As the 26-year-old sold the cannabis, he offered members of the community a ‘cash out’ facility which provided community members with tainted cash from the sale of cannabis.

Police allege $29,995 was transferred via EFTPOS and a further $21,960 in cash was deposited into an account held by the 30-year-old male. The 30-year-old collected a further $31,915 cash from the sale of cannabis and deposited it into his bank account. It is believed he received a total of $83,870 from the supply of cannabis.

The 26-year-old was arrested by Gunbalanya Police on 20 February 2019 and was placed before court for supply schedule 2 drug - commercial quantity.

The 30-year-old male handed himself into police and was remanded in custody to appear in Darwin Local Court yesterday.

He was charged with:

  • Supply schedule 2 drug – Commercial quantity
  • Possess/receive tainted property in commission of an offence

He was bailed to appear in Darwin Local Court on 20 January 2020.