Local police have disrupted an organised drug syndicate in Tennant Creek on Tuesday, seizing more than 21 kilograms of cannabis and arresting nine people.
Operation AMYL was implemented to stop the supply of commercial cannabis in the region and Aboriginal communities. The operation was conducted for three and a half months. Police will allege the syndicate have made more than half a million dollars in profits.
Detectives from the Tennant Creek and Alice Springs Detective Units and general duty police officers arrested six men and three women between the ages of 26 and 62 years old.
All nine have been charged with one count each of supplying commercial cannabis, possessing commercial cannabis and possessing tainted property.
Detective Sergeant Marek Hutchinson Goncz said the arrests would see a significant impact on the supply of drugs across the Barkly region.
“Police continue to have a zero tolerance to organised crime anywhere in the Northern Territory,” he said.
“We will continue to actively pursue those who choose to profit off of vulnerable members in our communities.”
This article appeared in the Tennant & District Times, 17 June 2022.