Detectives from the Drug and Organised Crime Squad have seized a further 250 kilograms of kava as part of Operation Abtei.

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Mark Malogorski said Police executed a search warrant at a property in Dundee yesterday and seized a commercial quantity of kava divided into deal bags.

“If sold in a remote community Police estimate the kava could have fetched around $250,000.

“Police arrested a 38-year-old man and charged him with possess and supply a commercial quantity of kava.”

He will appear in Darwin Magistrates Court today.

“Operation Abtei is an ongoing investigation into the supply of kava in the Northern Territory,” Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Malogorski said.

“The operation has been running for six week Northern Territory Police and in that time Police have seized 760 kilograms of kava. If sold in a remote community Police estimate the kava could fetch around $760,000.”

“This is a potentially significant amount of money coming out of remote communities and directly into the pockets of the criminals supplying this product.

“Police will continue to target people bringing kava into the Northern Territory which cause so much harm to remote communities.

“Anyone with information on the transportation and sale of kava in the Northern Territory is urged to contact Police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.”