The NT Joint Organised Crime Task Force (JOCTF) have charged a 24-year-old male and a 22-year-old female after a national operation into their alleged fraudulent criminal behaviour.

The pair arrived on a private flight to Darwin on Saturday 20 May 2023 and were allegedly making arrangements to illegally depart the country.

JOCTF Detectives and officers executed a search warrant at a hotel room on Mitchell Street, where the pair were staying, and seized an unlicensed firearm, a traffickable quantity of a schedule 2 dangerous drug and a large quantity of electronic devices.

The pair were arrested in the hotel lobby a short time later.

The male was charged with:

•          Possess carry use a firearm whilst unlicensed;

•          Fail to meet storage requirements

•          Possess false document

•          Possess schedule 2 - Traffickable x 2

•          Obtain property by deception

•          Deal in identity documents

•          Making false or misleading statements in relation to Australian travel documents (Commonwealth)

•          Producing false or misleading documents in relation to Australian travel documents (Commonwealth)

The female was charged with:

•          Obtain property by deception

•          Deal in identity documents

They were both remanded to appear in Darwin Local Court today.

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Darren Burns said “Detectives are currently analysing all of the seized electronic devices which police believe will reveal significant fraud across multiple states and territories in Australia. Investigations remain ongoing and further charges are expected to be laid.

“Detectives from the NT Joint Organised Crime Task Force acted swiftly with the information that was received and these arrests are a testament to their efforts.  Without their effort these persons may have successfully fled the country through Darwin and avoided facing justice for their alleged crimes.”

“This operation was a collaborative effort by the JOCTF, which includes the Australian Border Force, Australian Federal Police, Home Affairs, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and assistance from New South Wales Police.”