Police have arrested four males and a female following the seizure of a cannabis, alcohol and kava in East Arnhem Land on Wednesday afternoon in two separate communities. This is further to the arrests in Milingimbi earlier this week, which in total bring the total kava seizures across the region in the last five days to just under 700 kilograms.
Around 10am on 5 November 2025 police from Nhulunbuy, Gapuwiyak, Ramingining and the Dog Operations Unit undertook a traffic apprehension on a vehicle travelling along the Central Arnhem Highway in the Gapuwiyak region. A search of the vehicle located 1.4 kilograms of cannabis, 200 kilograms of kava and a quantity of liquor.
Two males aged 38 and 39 were arrested at the scene and later charged with:
- Possession of a commercial quantity of a Schedule 2 drug
- Supply a commercial quantity of a schedule 2 drug
- Possess a commercial quantity of kava
- Supply a commercial quantity of kava
- Supply kava without a licence
- Possess liquor in a restricted area
Both males were remanded in custody and were transported to Darwin for a court appearance on Friday 7 November.
Simultaneously in Millingimbi Community, police arrested two males, aged 66 and 42 and a 58-year-old female after locating and seizing 52.1kilograms of Kava and $44,723 in Australian Currency.
These persons have been charged with:
- Possess a commercial quantity of kava
- Supply a commercial quantity of kava
- Supply kava without a licence
All three offenders have also been remanded in custody and transported to Darwin for a court appearance on Friday 7 November.
Superintendent Daniel Bell said, “Alcohol, kava and cannabis misuse continue to have a profound and detrimental effect on the health, safety and cohesion of East Arnhem communities.
"These substances are directly linked to incidents of violence, anti-social behaviour and broader social harm.
"Police in East Arnhem remain committed to working closely with traditional leaders, community organisations, government partners and our specialist policing units to reduce substance-related harm and to create safer, stronger and more resilient communities.
"We will continue to actively target criminal networks seeking to profit from our vulnerable community members."
