Northern Territory Police are investigating an incident after a 27-year-old man absconded from the Centre for National Resilience overnight.

Police searched for the man throughout the night, after he was witnessed earlier in the evening scaling the fence and being picked up in a white utility outside the Centre.

The man was located at a licensed premises on Mitchell Street in Darwin City before midnight. He was returned to the Centre for urgent testing, were he returned a negative test.

Police are continuing to investigate the incident, including those who had involvement with picking the man up from outside the Centre.

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has any information is urged to contact police on 131 444. Please quote reference number 9858994.