Police dog Astra sniffs out drugs worth $1.6 million in communities

A WHOPPING 32kg stash of drugs has been seized during a roadside sniff and search by police dog Astra

Part of a 32kg drug haul near Mataranka worth more than $1 million. Picture: NT Police

A WHOPPING 32kg stash of drugs has been seized during a roadside sniff and search by police dog Astra.

Cops estimate the haul of cannabis seized has a street value of $360,000 in urban areas or a whopping $1.6 million if sold in Territory communities.

The cannabis was found on Wednesday at 2.10pm, hidden in a green Toyota Hilux.

The ute was searched by cops and detection dog Astra on the Stuart Hwy near Mataranka.

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The area where the 35-year-old man was pulled over is a Drug Detection Area.

The concealed drugs proved to be no hurdle for detection dog Astra, who was sent in to give the car a sniff and responded to two large metal tool boxes in the rear tray of the ute.

Part of a 32kg drug haul near Mataranka worth well more than $1m. Picture: NT Police

It was there that cops allegedly found multiple packages of cannabis.

The man was arrested, taken to the Katherine Police Station and charged over the incident.

The car was seized and further searched at the station by police.

It was then that cops allegedly found another concealment of cannabis hidden between metal tool boxes.

The 35-year-old was charged with supply and possession of a schedule 2 dangerous drug at a commercial quantity.

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The man fronted Katherine Local Court over the matter yesterday.

Mataranka is small community on the Stuart Hwy an hour’s drive south of Katherine or about a four-hour drive from Darwin.

A police spokesman said police would not be commenting further on the matter as it was before the courts.