The Northern Territory Joint Organised Crime Task Force (NT JOCTF) has charged two Darwin residents as part of a large-scale interstate drug operation.
The JOCTF is comprised of Northern Territory Police Force (NTPF) detectives, the Australian Federal Police (AFP), the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) and the Australian Border Force (ABF).
Operation Quantico was launched in August 2025 to target the supply of methamphetamine into the Northern Territory from a syndicate based in Brisbane and the Gold Coast in Queensland.
By late 2025, six NT residents involved in methamphetamine supply and two drug couriers from interstate had been arrested while approximately 4kg of methamphetamine had been seized.
Investigations identified that a 54-year-old female and her 44-year-old male partner had allegedly taken over the supply of commercial quantities of methamphetamine within Darwin for the syndicate.
NT Detectives engaged with Queensland Police Major and Organised Crime Squad (QPOL MOCS) and WAPOL Border Operations.
On 22 February 2026, NT Detectives identified a 15-year-old courier who had allegedly travelled to Darwin, received a significant amount of cash from the two alleged suppliers and returned to Queensland on the same day.
WAPOL intercepted the youth at Perth Airport on 28 February following a flight from Brisbane to Perth after receiving information from NT JOCTF.
A search was conducted and 2kg of cocaine was allegedly located.
QPOL MOCS disrupted the interstate syndicate on March 4 when it arrested three people and seized approximately 156kg of dangerous drugs including methamphetamine, cocaine, ketamine, MDMA and heroin.
On the same day QPOL Task Force (TF) Maxima conducted a search warrant at the Gold Coast residence of a male who was a primary syndicate member, and the arrest of an 18-year-old male, as well as the seizure of 172g of methamphetamine and 24g of cocaine.
On 5 March, NT JOCTF, Gangs Task Force and Drug and Organised Crime Section Detectives arrested a 54-year-old female at her workplace and executed a search warrant at the address in Winnellie.
She was found with 17g of methamphetamine in her work vehicle and office desk and was conveyed to the Palmerston Watch House.
Subsequent warrants were executed at further addresses linked to the female, resulting in the seizures of small quantities of drugs, supply indicia, a prohibited weapon and the arrest of a 44-year-old male.
The female was charged with:
- Supply Commercial quantity schedule 1 dangerous drugs
- 4x Possession of tainted property (totalling $159,100)
- Possess prohibited weapon
The male was charged with:
- Supply less than commercial quantity schedule 1 dangerous drug
- Possession of tainted property ($110,000)
- Possess less than traffickable schedule 1 dangerous drug
The pair are currently remanded in custody and are due to appear in Darwin Local Court on 18 March 2026.
Detective Superintendent John Ginnane said, "This was a significant investigation dedicated to putting an end to the illegal supply and distribution of illicit drugs.
"The investigation was a stellar example of how several organisations across the country can and do collaborate to put an end to interstate operations.
"If criminals engaged in the trafficking of life-destroying drugs believe they can operate with impunity in or outside their own State or Territory, this protracted, complex and multi-faceted investigation should make them think again.
"Police will continue to target organised crime syndicates - wherever they may be - to ensure offenders are held to account for their actions and protect vulnerable people in our community from being taken advantage of."
