Illegal pistol, cocaine, meth and $45,000 seized in NT Police operation
Three people have been charged after police found a pistol allegedly couriered from Queensland and large amounts of drugs after busting an NT ‘safe house’.
Three people in the NT have been charged after police seized a huge haul of drugs and a pistol in a series of drug busts.
The Northern Territory Drug and Organised Crime Division (DOCD) carried out a series of operations to uncover illegal firearms and drug supplies in the Territory after a tip-off.
Back in July, DOCD detectives were told that two guns, a 7.62mm SKS semiautomatic rifle and a 12-gauge shotgun, were being couriered from Queensland to the NT.
They were allegedly being sent to a 22-year-old man in the Territory who detectives later believed was supplying commercial amounts of cocaine, methamphetamine and cannabis.
Four searches unearths meth, cannabis, $45,000 and pistol
Through the operation named Operation Werra, it was discovered a 64-year-old woman was allegedly working with the younger man to help him supply cannabis.
On Thursday, September 18, police say they carried out the first of four searches on Britomart Gardens, Alawa known as the alleged offenders ‘safe house’.
There officers found 560g of methamphetamine, 1.8kg of cannabis and $45,000 in cash.
A 65-year-old woman who lived at the address and known to the pair was also arrested and taken to Palmerston Watch House.
A short time later, police said detectives located the 22-year-old driving his Toyota HiLux on Tasman Circuit in Wagaman.
When they tried to open his car door, detectives said the man reversed the car and then drove forward nearly hitting one of them.
The 22-year-old, after allegedly hitting the police vehicle, was removed from his HiLux and arrested.
In his vehicle, police found 4g of methamphetamine and $950 in cash.
When the alleged offender was drug tested, he was found positive for methamphetamine, cocaine and opioids.
Police then searched his home in Curlew Circuit, Wulagi where they found more cannabis (trafficable quantity) and a 22 calibre semiautomatic pistol with suppressor.
During the search, a family member, aged 64, tried to enter the property and was arrested for the supply of a commercial quantity of schedule 2 drugs.
A fourth search on Friday, September 19, yielded 250g of cannabis at a home on Earl Place in Millner.
The charges
The 22-year-old has been hit with 12 charges.
These include:
– Supplying schedule 1 drug – Commercial quantity x two (56g cocaine and 560g methamphetamine)
– Supplying schedule 2 drug – Commercial quantity (13.6kg of cannabis)
– Possessing schedule 1 drug – Commercial quantity
– Possessing schedule 2 drug – Commercial quantity
– Recklessly endangering a life
– Possessing or using a prohibited firearm x three
– Possessing or using a silencer
– Failure to meet storage requirements
– Drug driving
Police said they also expected to charge him with possessing 1.25kg of cocaine which was seized in July this year.
The 22-year-old will appear in Darwin Local Court on September 29.
The woman, aged 65, has received five charges including supplying and possessing a commercial quantity of Schedule 1 and 2 drugs and receiving proceeds of crime.
She has been bailed to appear at Darwin Local Court on November 19.
The 64-year-old woman has been charged with supplying and possessing a commercial quantity of Schedule 2 drugs and receiving proceeds of crime.
She will appear in Darwin Local Court on September 26.
Speaking about the successful operation, detective senior constable, Mark Bond, said the DOCD was dedicated to disrupting illegal supply chains in the NT.
“The Northern Territory Drug and Organised Crime Division will stop at nothing to prevent these offences occurring in the Territory and we will continue to disrupt the supply and distribution of harmful substances and prohibited firearms into our community,” he said.
