Nearly 300 litres of alcohol seized and destroyed en route to dry communities in Northern Territory 

Hundreds of litres of beer, wine and spirits has been intercepted en route to ‘dry’ communities in Australia’s far north.

Police officers and drug detection dogs searched 38 vehicles – carrying a total of 124 people – at the Stuart Highway crossing into the Adelaide River region of the Northern Territory over the weekend.

A staggering 289 litres of alcohol was seized and subsequently destroyed in the searches, including 21 casks of wine, five bottles of bourbon, three bottles of rum and five crates of beer.

Officers called the sheer quantity of illegally trafficked liquor ‘unprecedented.’

Hundreds of litres of beer, wine and spirits (pictured) was intercepted en route to ‘dry’ communities in Australia’s far north over the weekend

Police officers and drug detection dogs searched 38 vehicles - carrying a total of 124 people - at the Stuart Highway crossing into the Adelaide River region of the Northern Territory (pictured)

Police officers and drug detection dogs searched 38 vehicles – carrying a total of 124 people – at the Stuart Highway crossing into the Adelaide River region of the Northern Territory (pictured)

Acting Superintendent Stephen Martin of the Northern Division expressed disbelief at the idea that smugglers would be willing to drive some 14 hours just to cheat the state’s alcohol laws.

‘It appears that some community members are prepared to conduct a 1700km round trip from Lajamanu to Darwin specifically to purchase liquor to defeat liquor restrictions,’ said acting Supt Martin.  

Most of the alcohol was believed to be destined for the small towns of Lajamanu and Kalkaringi, in the central western region of the Northern Territory.

The operation was planned as part of a crackdown on illicit substances in the area in support of the Adelaide River Races, an annual horse-racing carnival.

The operation was planned as part of a crackdown on illicit substances in the area in support of the Adelaide River Races, an annual horse-racing carnival

The operation was planned as part of a crackdown on illicit substances in the area in support of the Adelaide River Races, an annual horse-racing carnival

Police set up a zone at the crossing, targeting vehicles that were there to attend the Races as well as those that were just passing through.

A total of 143 grams of cannabis was also seized, and police made a number of arrests for drug and traffic infringements during the roadblock operation. 

‘This is great work by police targeting the supply of illicit substances into liquor protected areas,’ acting Supt Martin said.

‘We will continue to work to reduce the harmful impact that alcohol and drugs can have on the whole NT community.’

There are more than 100 places in the Northern Territory where alcohol is totally banned under the law outside a licensed premises. 



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