After a four-month operation, Detectives from the Alice Springs Tactical Investigations Unit have dismantled an elaborate criminal network involved in trafficking MDMA (ecstasy), methamphetamines (ice), steroids and testosterone from South Australia to Alice Springs.
This operation culminated in the arrest of six people for serious drug-related offending as well as the seizure of a large quantity of illicit drugs.
Detective Superintendent Travis Wurst said that investigations into the criminal network commenced in August with the last offender being extradited from Adelaide today for serious drug trafficking offences.
“On 1December 2015, NT Police intercepted a road train carrying a vehicle that concealed 248 grams of MDMA and 56 grams of methamphetamines.
“On 7 December, Police executed search warrants on two residences in Araluen that resulted in the arrest of a 21-year-old male.
“The warrants also resulted in the seizure of 21 grams of MDMA and a small quantity of methamphetamine from one residence and a trafficable quantity of methamphetamine from the other.”
On 8 and 9 December Police arrested a 23-year-old man and a 30-year-old man who were allegedly also involved.
“Further investigations revealed additional packages arriving in Alice Springs on 30 November and 1 December 2015 containing quantities of testosterone and steroids. Police arrested a further two males aged 24 and 30.”
They were charged as follows.
Offender 1: 21-year-old male arrested 7 December
- Supply MDMA (commercial)
- Supply methamphetamine (commercial)
- Possess MDMA – trafficable quantity
- Supply MDMA x 6
- Supply steroids x 8
- Possess prohibited weapon
He has been bailed to appear in court on 22 January 2016.
Offender 2: 23-year-old man arrested 8 December
- Supply methamphetamine commercial
- Supply MDMA – Commercial
- Dealing with property used in connection with offences
- Possess methamphetamine – trafficable
He has been remanded in custody to appear in court on 21 January 2016.
Offender 3: 30-year-old man arrested 9 December
- Supply methamphetamine – commercial
- Supply MDMA – commercial
- Dealing with property used in connection with offences – laundering
- Supply Schedule 2 dangerous drug – trafficable
- Supply Schedule 2 dangerous drug
He has been bailed to appear in court on 7 January 2016.
Offender 4: 24-year-old man arrested on 11 December
- Possess MDMA
- Possess Schedule 2 dangerous drug
- Supply Schedule 4 drug x 3
He has been bailed to appear in court on 29 December 2015.
Offender 5: 45-year-old man arrested on 23 December:
- Possession of Schedule 2 substance
He has been bailed to appear at the Alice Springs Court on 19 January 2016.
Offender 6: 22-year-old man extradited from South Australia to Alice Springs today.
- Supply methamphetamine - commercial;
- Supply MDMA - commercial;
- 2 x supply schedule 2 dangerous drug - trafficable; and
- Supply schedule 2 dangerous drug
He will appear in the Alice Springs Magistrates Court today.
“The dangers of recreational drugs cannot be understated as has been highlighted by the recent tragedy deaths interstate of users consuming illicit substances such as ecstasy. This is a very satisfying outcome for the Alice Springs community as the risk to the public is greatly decreased by removing these dangerous drugs from circulation,” Superintendent Wurst said.
