NT police target drugs

Operation Vitreus was coordinated by the National Methylamphetamine Strategy Group, which is currently lead by Western Australia Police, but involved all State and Territory Police agencies, working in conjunction with the Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, AUSTRAC, Australian Taxation Office and the New Zealand Police.

Search warrants were carried out nationally resulting in a total of 272 arrests and 659 charges.

These operations also resulting in the seizure of approximately 3.5kg of Methylamphetamine, 18.2kg of Cannabis, 2kg of Steroids, 863 tablets of LSD, 3442 tablets/capsules of MDMA, 423g of MDMA powder and approximately 13g of Heroin.

Other seizures included cannabis seeds, Ketamine, Synthetic Cannabis and Dimethyltryptamine.

A number of enforcement strategies took place with NT Police conducting search warrants, screening mail and freight and screening vehicles and people on board.

The operation resulted in 29 charges laid, nine arrests, four people were issues with a Drug Infringement Notice and one person was issued with a Notice to Appear. Drugs seized throughout the operation included LSD, Methylamphetamine, Cannabis and MDMA.

This week-long effort is another example of law enforcement agencies working together in a coordinated fashion to disrupt the supply of methylamphetamine and other illicit drugs in the community.

Detective Acting Superintendent Karen Sanderson “A majority of drugs we see come from interstate or overseas.

“This Operation was one in which we were connected as part of a much larger network and able to disrupt the supply before it hit our communities.

“As much as these week-long efforts are good in tackling drug distribution and assist us in building our networks, NT Police work hard on a daily basis trying to stop drugs and we do rely on the community to assist us in these efforts.

Police have seized more than $300,000 in cash and arrested 16 people as part of Operation Guardian.

Since December 2017 the operation has targeted the sale, supply and distribution of commercial quantities of methamphetamine in the Darwin region.

Over the past several months Op Guardian has achieved the following:

Seizure of 1.624 kg of methamphetamine

Seizure of 120 grams of MDMA

Seizure of $330,000 cash

Seizure of 10 firearms

Property valued at $700,000 being pursued under Criminal Property Forfeiture Act

16 arrests

2 notices to appear

Operation Commander Acting Superintendent Karen Sanderson praised the efforts of investigators.

“Northern Territory Police recently took part in national efforts to target and disrupt the supply of methamphetamine as part of Operation Vitreus,” she said.

“Our participation in this, along with Operation Guardian, shows just how seriously Northern Territory Police take the threat of drugs in our communities.”