International drug syndicate arrest: 1kg of meth seized at Darwin airport
A joint law enforcement operation investigating an international drug syndicate that is allegedly supplying illicit substances into Australia has seen a 26-year-old man charged after the seizure of 1kg of methamphetamine at Darwin Airport at the weekend.
A joint law enforcement operation investigating an international drug syndicate that is allegedly supplying illicit substances into Australia has seen a 26-year-old man charged after the seizure of 1kg of methamphetamine at Darwin Airport at the weekend.
The arrest by the Northern Territory Joint Organised Crime Taskforce is part of Operation Quantico, an ongoing operation with members of the NT Police Force, Australian Border Force and the Australian Federal Police.
As part of these investigations, a 26-year-old man was identified as a potential drug courier.
On Saturday 15 November 2025, the 26-year-old was apprehended at Darwin Airport after flying in from Brisbane earlier that morning.
His suitcase was seized and 1kg of methamphetamine was allegedly located inside a CCTV box.
The man was taken into custody and has since been charged with Supply and Possession of a commercial quantity of schedule 1 substance.
He was remanded to appear in Darwin Local Court on 4 February 2026.
Detective Acting Superintendent David Richardson said the supply and distribution of methamphetamine causes untold harm.
“Our officers will continue to disrupt those that seek to profit from it at every turn,” he said.
“This arrest was the result of considerable effort from multiple agencies, working together with a single focus.”
ABF Acting Inspector Harrison Springfield said the arrest demonstrated the effectiveness of the NT Joint Organised Crime Taskforce in disrupting organised criminal activity within the Territory.
“The ABF is the first line of defence at the border to stop the flow of illicit drugs entering the country and we are determined to help make NT a hostile environment for those seeking to make profits off the misery that meth causes,” acting Inspector Springfield said.
Originally published as International drug syndicate arrest: 1kg of meth seized at Darwin airport
