Northern Territory Police have arrested four men and one woman after seizing large quantities of cannabis, alcohol and kava in two East Arnhem Land communities on Wednesday — bringing the total kava seizures in the region over the past five days to nearly 700 kilograms.
Superintendent Daniel Bell said substance misuse continues to have a damaging impact on the health, safety and cohesion of East Arnhem communities.
“Alcohol, kava and cannabis misuse are directly linked to violence, anti-social behaviour and social harm,” Superintendent Bell said. “Police in East Arnhem remain committed to working with traditional leaders, community organisations, government partners and specialist policing units to reduce substance-related harm and build safer, stronger communities.”
“We will continue to target criminal networks that seek to profit from our vulnerable community members.”
Around 10am on 5 November, officers from Nhulunbuy, Gapuwiyak, Ramingining and the Dog Operations Unit intercepted a vehicle travelling along the Central Arnhem Highway near Gapuwiyak. A search uncovered 1.4 kilograms of cannabis, 200 kilograms of kava and a quantity of alcohol.
Two men, aged 38 and 39, were arrested at the scene and later charged with multiple offences, including possession and supply of a commercial quantity of a Schedule 2 drug and kava, supplying kava without a licence, and possessing liquor in a restricted area. Both men have been remanded in custody and transported to Darwin for a court appearance on Friday, 7 November.
In a separate operation in the Milingimbi community, police arrested two men, aged 66 and 42, and a 58-year-old woman after seizing 52.1 kilograms of kava and $44,723 in cash. They were charged with possessing and supplying a commercial quantity of kava and supplying kava without a licence. All three have also been remanded in custody and will appear in Darwin court on Friday.
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