This is a joint media release between the Australian Federal Police and the Northern Territory Police Force
A 23-year-old Darwin man is due to face Darwin Local Court today (29 April) following a joint police investigation into a nation-wide network allegedly using the postal system to traffic narcotics.
The Northern Territory Joint Organised Crime Taskforce (NT JOCTF), comprised of the Australian Federal Police (AFP), Australian Border Force (ABF), Northern Territory Police (NTPOL), the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) and Department of Home Affairs (DHA), began the investigation into the network after detecting a number of drug importations destined for parcel lockers in Darwin.
Investigators were made aware of three parcels containing more than 80 grams of crystal MDMA at a Darwin post office and on April 22nd police arrested a 23-year-old man who allegedly arrived to collect the drugs.
A search warrant was then executed at the man's residence in Wanguri where police seized 131 grams of MDMA, prescription medication and six LSD tabs. Several electronic items were seized and this evidence will be subject to further forensic testing.
The man has been charged with;
- Importing commercial quantities of border controlled drugs, pursuant to section 307.1 of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth)
- Possession of Commercial Quantities of Schedule 1 Dangerous Drugs, pursuant to Section 5 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1990 (NT)
- Supply of Commercial Quantities of Schedule 1 Dangerous Drugs, pursuant to Section 7 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1990 (NT)
- Possession of Trafficable Quantities of Schedule 1 Dangerous Drugs, pursuant to Section 5 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1990 (NT)
- Supply of Trafficable Quantities of Schedule 1 Dangerous Drugs, pursuant to Section 7 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1990 (NT)
- Possession of Schedule 8 Prescribed Substance, pursuant to Section 45 of the Medicine, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 2012 (NT)
- Supply of Schedule 8 Prescribed Substance, pursuant to Section 46 of the Medicine, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 2012 (NT)
- Unlawfully using identifying information, pursuant to section 228C Criminal Code Act (NT).
AFP Superintendent Matthew Ballard said with the mail system facing unprecedented demand, police were ready to intercept parcels facilitating the illegal drug trade.
"Criminal networks have been looking for ways to circumvent current COVID-19 travel restrictions. The AFP will continue to adapt as required to cause maximum damage to the criminal environment and protect the NT community from harm." Superintendent Ballard said
Detective Superintendent Kerry Hoskins of NT Police Drug and Organised Crime Division said COVID-19 travel restrictions have limited the ability of criminal networks to transport drugs into the Northern Territory.
"This has allowed us to focus our police resources where we are most likely to have the greatest impact on disrupting the supply of illicit drugs into our community." Superintendent Hoskins said.
Images of the drugs seized can be found at this hightail link: https://spaces.hightail.com/space/mUD9vZcBTv/files
