A joint Northern Territory organised crime taskforce has arrested multiple people and seized more than 156 kilograms of drugs in an operation aimed at disrupting interstate trafficking.
Earlier this month, officers arrested two people in Darwin following a months-long investigation into NT methamphetamine supply from an alleged syndicate based in Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
In a statement on Friday, an NT Police spokesperson said by late last year, six NT residents allegedly involved in methamphetamine supply had been arrested, along with two drug couriers from interstate.
Police say they arrested multiple people in connection with the alleged interstate drug trafficking scheme. (Supplied: NT Police)
Police allege a 54-year-old woman and her 44-year-old partner then took over the supply of commercial quantities of methamphetamine within Darwin for the interstate syndicate.
The spokesperson said investigators also identified a 15-year-old courier who allegedly travelled to Darwin in February and received a significant quantity of cash from the two alleged suppliers, before returning to Queensland the same day.
Western Australian Police stopped the youth at the Perth Airport a week later allegedly in possession of 2kg of cocaine, acting on information from the NT’s joint taskforce.
Syndicate ‘disrupted’, police say
On March 4, Queensland Police arrested three people and seized about 156kg of illicit drugs, including methamphetamine, cocaine, ketamine, MDMA and heroin.
They also arrested an 18-year-old man at a Gold Coast home and seized 172g of methamphetamine and 24g of cocaine.
NT Police say the operation was launched in August last year. (Supplied: NT Police)
The next day, the NT Joint Organised Crime Task Force arrested the 54-year old Darwin woman at her workplace in the Darwin suburb of Winnellie.
Police allege 17g of methamphetamine was found in her work vehicle and office desk during a search of the premises.
She was charged with commercial drug supply, multiple counts of possessing tainted property totalling $159,100 and possessing a prohibited weapon.
The 44-year-old man was later also arrested and charged with commercial drug supply, possessing $110,000 worth of tainted property and drug possession.
The pair were remanded in custody and are due to appear in the Darwin Local Court on March 18.
The operation was targeting the supply of methamphetamines into the Northern Territory. (Supplied: NT Police)
Detective Superintendent John Ginnane said the investigation was a “stellar example” of police collaborating to disrupt alleged interstate criminal operations.
“This was a significant investigation dedicated to putting an end to the [alleged] illegal supply and distribution of illicit drugs,” he said.
“Police will continue to target organised crime syndicates — wherever they may be — to ensure offenders are held to account for their actions and protect vulnerable people in our community from being taken advantage of.”