Media release

Drug Charges - Operation Kint

Police

The Northern Territory Police Drug and Organised Crime Unit have arrested 6 offenders in relation to the largescale supply of drugs across the Territory.

Operation Kint was launched in May 2024 to specifically target known commercial suppliers and distributors of illicit substances. Since its launch, investigators have been gathering evidence and identifying members from a known Outlaw Motorcycle Gang who have had significant influence on the Greater Darwin drug trade.

Yesterday, Investigators arrested two men, aged 48 and 56, outside a hotel in Darwin. Police will alleged the 48-year-old was in possession of $201,000 in cash while the other had just transported 31kg of cannabis from Melbourne to be distributed.

These arrests prompted investigators to immediately execute 8 separate search and seizure warrants across the Greater Darwin Area.

As a result of these searches, including the hotel arrest operation, police have seized in total:

  • $447,430 cash
  • 35.5kg of cannabis
  • 3 vehicles
  • Traffickable and less than traffickable quantities of methamphetamine
  • A substance believed to be commercial MDMA
  • An unsecured firearm
  • Nun chucks, knuckle dusters and an extendable baton
  • 5 ice pipes
  • An encrypted communication device
  • Items indicative of drug supply

A further 4 men, aged 33, 50, 51 and 54, were arrested during the searches.

All 6 men have since been charged with:

  • Possess/Supply Commercial Quantity Sch2 dangerous drug
  • Possess/Use Tainted Property

All have been remanded to appear in Darwin Local Court today.

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Tim Gardiner said “These arrests have significantly disrupted the illicit drug trade across Darwin and are the direct result of hundreds of hours of comprehensive police work.  

“ Drug Syndicates, with influences from Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs, cause untold harm throughout our community. They fuel crime and financially cripple vulnerable members of the Territory, while having a complete disregard for the impacts of their actions.

“Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs are not welcome here, and members should be aware that any attempt to operate an organised crime network will be disrupted by the Northern Territory Police.