Members from the Special Operations Section arrested a 58-year-old Darwin man yesterday as part of a multi jurisdiction drug operation.

The man was arrested at his Fannie Bay home in connection with the importation of a large quantity of drugs into Australia from Indonesia in February.

It is alleged the man arrived in Darwin in the early hours of 11 February with 282.5 grams of ephedrine concealed in an alcohol bottle.

Police chemists estimate the drug could have been potentially used to manufacture 179 grams of pure methamphetamine with a street value of approximately one million dollars.

The man has been charged in relation to the following offences:

Import border controlled substance - marketable quantity x 2
Supply pre-cursors for dangerous drugs x 2

NT Police plan to seek approval from the Director of Public Prosecutions to charge the offender with additional money laundering charges.

He is due to appear in the Darwin Magistrates Court on 6 September.

Detective Senior Sergeant Peter Malley said "This has been a significant operation for the NT Police and its partners in law enforcement in the Top End. We have greatly reduced the availability of pre-cursor substances used in the manufacture of methamphetamine."

Media Contact:
Rickie Scoot
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