Former NT Police officer Johnny-lee Asomaliu Peteru Pati allegedly busted with 1kg of cocaine in Darwin city bust
A former NT Police officer was allegedly busted with a kilo of cocaine hidden in his Darwin city home. Read the latest from court.
A former Northern Territory cop was allegedly busted with a kilo of cocaine in his Darwin City home following a major drug squad operation.
Johnny-lee Asomaliu Peteru Pati appeared in Darwin Local Court on Friday charged with supplying and possessing a commercial quantity of cocaine.
Mr Pati joined the force in April 2018 as part of the Alice Springs accelerated recruit Squad 133, off the back of a New Zealand recruitment campaign to get experienced officers from “across the ditch”, according to the NT Police news.
It is understood he has since left the force.
On Thursday, the Drug and Organised Crime Section raided a home on Wood Street in Darwin’s CBD, where they allegedly seized 1kg of cocaine and other drug paraphernalia.
The 32-year-old was arrested and charged with possessing and supplying a commercial quantity of a dangerous drug.
Mr Pati appeared before Judge Jon Bortoli on Friday morning, with a bail application adjourned to Thursday, November 6.
Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Lawson said the supply of illegal drugs had a “detrimental impact on our community, fuelling addiction, crime, and family violence”.
“We will continue to target those who bring dangerous drugs into the Territory and bring them before the courts,” he said.
“To those who participate in this offending, if we haven’t knocked on your door yet, it is only a matter of time.”
