Seven charged, face court following alleged multimillion-dollar drug syndicate bust

SEVEN men have faced court in relation to a major drug bust which saw police seize almost $2 million in cash and 132 kgs of cannabis over the last few weeks.

Police will allege Watene Kirikino is the ‘lieutenant’ of the syndicate. Picture: Facebook

SEVEN men have faced court in relation to a major drug bust which saw police seize almost $2 million in cash and 132 kgs of cannabis over the last few weeks.

Tama Kirikino, Watene Kirikino, Shannon Wagner, Peter James, Corey Graham, Jeremy Ford and Michael Lording all faced the Darwin Local Court yesterday, with the prosecution alleging they are all co-offenders in the multimillion-dollar syndicate.

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They all stand charged with a combined total of 37 offences including drug possession, drug supply and tainted property charges.

The seven men were arrested on Thursday after police raided 10 properties and seized $1.95 million in cash as well as more drugs and a number of illegal weapons. Police will allege the 132 kgs of cannabis they seized in September is related to the same syndicate.

A number of the men applied for bail but were all either denied or adjourned for further consideration.

Police will allege Watene Kirikino is the "lieutenant" of the syndicate. Picture: Facebook

Lawyer for the two Kirikino brothers, Shane McMaster applied for bail on their behalf, with Watene’s bail being refused by Judge John Neill after the court heard he had been allegedly caught in possession of 32 pounds of cannabis.

Tama’s bail application was adjourned awaiting further assessment and medical records.

Prosecutor Ian Rowbottom told the court Tama, aged 27, had been working selling drugs for his brother Watene, 29, who police will allege is one of the main players in the syndicate. “The drums were found at his residence, which police will allege were used in the transportation of the cannabis.”

“He was not a mule, he was a lieutenant.”

Northern Territory Policeseized approximately 132kg of cannabis in September. Drug and Organised Crime Detective Superintendent Kerry Hoskins made the announcement. Photograph: Che Chorley

However, Mr McMaster told the court Watene was “not someone sitting on the top of the tree,” in terms of his position in the syndicate.

James’s lawyer, Jon Tippett QC, did not apply for bail on his behalf, with the court hearing that police will allege James is the head of the syndicate.

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All seven men have been remanded in custody and will return to court in the coming weeks.

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