NT: Cannabis stopped on way to festival by joint operation

AAP General News (Australia)
04-24-2007
NT: Cannabis stopped on way to festival by joint operation

BY Tara Ravens

DARWIN, April 24 AAP - Roadblocks and raids by police have seized more than 80 grams
of cannabis they say was bound for a country music festival in Western Australia.

The operation was mounted by the Substance Abuse Intelligence Desk (SAID), which is
focused on the illegal trafficking of petrol, drugs and alcohol in the outback, and which
aims to reduce drug-fuelled crime in remote communities.

The SAID operation aimed to stop drugs getting to a Tamworth on Tour country music
festival at Warburton, about 1,540 kilometres northeast of Perth, on April 16 and 17,
police said.

Officers and the NT Dog Operations Unit set up a roadblock 20km from Wingelina in Western
Australia to stop illicit substances reaching the event, 220kms to the west.

Officer in charge of the NT SAID, Beau McNeill, said 35 vehicles were searched, netting
six grams of cannabis that lead to a house search at Wingelina.

The raid procured 60 grams of cannabis while another 15 grams divided into deal bags
was located at another residence.

Serg McNeill said two men, aged 34 and 22, were arrested and charged with possession
and supply of cannabis.

"It is understood that the bulk of this cannabis was believed to have been destined
for the country music festival in Warburton," he said.

"As a result of targeted operations the festival was held without incident."

AAP tr/sp/jlw

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