Tiwi Bomber players caught allegedly smuggling booze, drugs

PLAYERS from the Tiwi Bombers Football Club have been busted by police allegedly attempting to smuggle drugs and alcohol into a remote community

Police seized 72 grams of cannabis, 20 grams of synthetic cannabis and four litres of alcohol from the plane. Picture: NT Police

PLAYERS from the Tiwi Bombers Football Club have been busted by police allegedly attempting to smuggle drugs and alcohol into a remote community over the weekend.

Police searched a chartered plane taking the Bombers players and staff to Wurrumiyanga on Saturday night and found 72g of cannabis, 20g of synthetic cannabis and four litres of alcohol.

Police had received a tip off that some of the team members were smuggling in illicit substances into the community from Darwin, where they had played against the Waratahs earlier the same day.

Four players aged 20, 26, 27 and 30 were issued with infringement notices for possessing drugs in a public place and bringing alcohol to an indigenous community.

Police said investigations are continuing in regards to the distribution of the synthetic cannabis.

Bombers general manager Leigh Crossman said the club will be co-operating with police investigation.

“The club is extremely disappointed with the action of 4 of its players as it has done a lot of work with them around stopping this kind of behaviour,” he said.

“However there is only so much the club can do before people take responsibility for their own actions.”

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“The club will action its Drug and Alcohol Policy and will continue to work with the police and it’s players.

“We won’t be making any further comment until after the investigation is complete.”

The AFL Northern Territory issued a statement yesterday afternoon, saying it was aware the investigation.

“Where possible, AFLNT will assist the NT Police with its inquiries and will work with the clubs and relevant parties,” the statement said.

The Jabiru Bombers Football Club was rocked by a similar scandal last January when players were caught using a club-funded charter flight to smuggle drugs and alcohol into Gunbalanya. Police then had uncovered 39 bottles of spirits, 90g of cannabis and a two-litre cask wine.