CAR WITH THC4ME PLATE CARRIED DOPE

A MAN driving a car with the licence plate "THC4ME" has been
caught with 1kg of cannabis and more than $12,000 cash in a remote
Northern Territory community.

Michael John Page, 44, pleaded guilty in the NT Supreme Court
yesterday to supplying a commercial quantity of cannabis and
possessing $12,880, gained through the commission of an offence.

Prosecutor Corinna Baohm said the man bought a $4000 car, clip-seal
bags and about 1kg of cannabis - for which he paid about $8800 - in
Katherine in January. He then drove to Ramingining on the Arnhem Land
coast where he stayed with a friend.

The friend has also been charged with offences.

Ms Baohm told the court Mr Page divided the cannabis into 1g bags and
then sold the bags to locals for $50 each.

Between January 15 and 17, Mr Page sold 337 bags in 1g lots "and made
$12,880 cash", the prosecutor said.

Police from the Drug Enforcement Unit travelled to the community on
January 18 after community elders told them people were "off their
faces" on the cannabis, the court heard.

A search of the co-accused's house revealed 550g of cannabis and more
than $12,000. "The accused admitted buying two pounds of cannabis in
Katherine to sell to people in Ramingining," Ms Baohm said.

"He estimated he would make $25,000 from the sale of the
cannabis."

Defence lawyer Glen Dooley said his client wanted to make money
quickly so he and his partner could buy a house. He conceded Mr Page
had more than 40 previous convictions but at least half were for
traffic offences.

"He is certainly looking at a lengthy period of imprisonment," Mr
Dooley said.

"He feels no good at all ... about selling drugs to people who could
well spend that money better."