16 kilograms of Kava was seized by the Northern Territory Police as they arrested a well respected 56-year-old Aboriginal elder in connection. He will appear in court this May. Police from Ramingining in Arnhem Land stopped a Toyota Landcruiser at Barge Landing Road on Good Friday. The haul included 16 kg of Kava and small amounts of Cannabis. A police spokewoman revealed on Monday, "The Kava had a street value of $16,000 and was headed for Milingimbi Island before it was intercepted by police."
Superintendent Helen Braam said "Kava is a drug - it has serious medical and social repercussions for the community…The police will continue to disrupt and target drug dealers in the community - no matter who they are or what their standing is in the community."
While the actual identity of the arrested elder was not revealed Supt Braam said it was not the first time respected Arnhem Land community members had been involved. "The members of the Katherine and Northern Regional Command are working hard with key representatives across the region to put in place mutual respect protocols that will guide the way police and community work together to address crime issues, and this includes the running of Cannabis, ‘grog’ and Kava…People who behave in this manner undermine and devalue this whole process," she said.
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