Northern Territory Police have arrested the parents of a 14-year-old boy who allegedly used their child to smuggle drugs into Groote Eylandt.

Police from the Alyangula Dog Operations Unit conducted a luggage check on a flight that arrived at Groote Eylandt around 10:00am on Friday 12 August 2019. 110 grams of cannabis was located in the child’s checked luggage. Following investigations, a 33-year-old woman and 37-year-old male were interviewed in Alyangula.

They were later charged with:

• Procure Child To Supply Less Than Commercial Quantity Of Schedule Two Drug - Indigenous Community

Acting Senior Sergeant Craig Dunlop said this is not the first time parents have attempted to smuggle drugs into Groote Eylandt via their children’s luggage.

“It’s an appalling practice and places the children at risk of harm. The maximum penalty for this particular offence is imprisonment for 10 years.”