A joint operation by the Alcohol Policing Unit, Water Police Section, Dog Operations Unit, Social Order and Substance Abuse Intelligence Desk saw ferries bound for the Tiwi Islands screened for illicit substances over an 18-day period.
Run from 28 February to 17 March 2019, the operation targeted the secondary supply of alcohol in protected areas along with preventing prohibited and harmful drugs being taken into remote communities. Passengers boarding ferries and their baggage were subject to screening by drug detection dogs.
The combined effort of policing units also included Water Police members travelling on the ferries to maintain social order and conducting recreational vessel checks for drugs and alcohol yesterday in the Bathurst Island region.
Acting Superintendent Crispin Gargan of the Alcohol Policing Division said operations like this one are important steps that are taken to prevent the harm that alcohol and drugs can bring to a community.
“Keeping families safe from harm is our priority,” A/Supt Gargan said.
“We often see the harmful effects that alcohol and drugs have on people, including vulnerable children.
“One of the roles of the Alcohol Policing Unit is to coordinate these operations and conduct them to stop the flow of harmful substances, giving people a chance to be safe and free of violence that is often linked to substance abuse.”
The operation coincided with the NTFL and Tiwi Islands football grand finals over the weekend, with police saying that they were generally happy with the behaviour of the crowds at both events.
As a result of the operation the following outcomes were achieved:
- 451 grams of cannabis seized
- 16 bottles of spirits seized and destroyed
- 4 litres of wine seized and destroyed
- 1 litre of beer seized and destroyed
- 1 arrest for possession of cannabis – traffickable quantity
- 1 Notice to Appear for possession of cannabis – traffickable quantity
- 3 Drug Infringement Notices issued
- 4 persons refused travel due to intoxication
