(LAWFUEL) – Two Darwin residents were charged yesterday afternoon with drug related offences as a result of a joint operation involving the Australian Federal Police (AFP), Customs and Northern Territory Police.
A 33-year-old man and a 30-year-old woman were charged with importing and
possessing a border controlled drug contrary to the Criminal Code Act 995.
The woman was also charged with supplying a dangerous drug under Northern
Territory law.
Customs investigations began six months ago when two packages addressed to a Darwin (Winnellie) post box and containing bottles declared as supplements were examined by Customs officers at the Brisbane Post Facility.
Preliminary testing of the capsules in the bottles indicated the presence of amphetamine-based substance.
From late October to early December, Customs officers at Sydney’s International Mail Centre intercepted a further five letter consignments addressed to the same consignee details in Darwin. Customs then referred the matter to the AFP and Northern Territory Police for further investigations. AFP and Northern Territory Police officers executed a search warrant at a residential address in Darwin yesterday and seized 255 small bags of white powder, 158 tablets and 37 capsules.
Presumptive tests on those capsules indicated the presence of methamphetamine. The substances seized will undergo further testing to determine their exact nature, purity and quantity.
The man and the woman were charged and bailed yesterday to appear before Darwin Magistrates Court on 6 January 2008.
The maximum penalty for these offences is 10 years imprisonment and/or a $550,000 fine.
