DRUG DEALERS BUSTED

Squad Seizes Assets

A new police squad dedicated to cutting the supply of cannabis to remote
communities has seized more than $100,000 in cash in the past six months.

The Remote Area Drug Desk was set up in May to target cannabis growers -
mostly from the greater Darwin area - who supply remote communities.

Police from the squad raided a Howard Springs home late last week and found
four hydroponic plants growing in a sophisticated set-up and cannabis
believed to be destined for remote communities.

A 53-year-old woman will be summonsed on charges of cultivation and
possession of a traffickable amount of cannabis due to the raid.

The Remote Area Drug Desk has seized about 8kg of cannabis believed to have
been grown specifically for remote communities since it was established.

More than $100,000 cash has been confiscated and 25 people charged in
relation to the seizures.

One gram of cannabis can fetch up to $300 in remote communities - the going
price in Darwin for the same amount is $25.

The standard price in remote communities is about $80 a gram.

A recent survey found that some young people in remote communities are
spending up to 75 per cent of their income on cannabis.

Superintendent Kris Evans from the Drug Enforcement Section said the Remote
Area Drug Desk was part of a new police strategy.

It is staffed by eight members from the Drug Enforcement Section.

"Cannabis use was identified as an emerging problem in remote communities
and as part of the tough-on-drugs approach, a new strategy was formulated
to tackle the problem," Supt Evans said.

"Every dollar spent on cannabis in remote communities is another dollar
that goes out of the community and could be put to better use buying food
and other essential items.

"People who supply drugs to remote communities are motivated by greed."

Police from the Remote Area Drug Desk have also seized two vehicles.