[420 Girl]

CRIMINAL syndicates have been making a mint running drugs to remote communities since widespread alcohol restrictions were brought in.

The Federal Government responded yesterday by announcing $2million in funds for sniffer dogs and a drugs intelligence desk, focusing operations in Arnhem Land and the Katherine region.

Chief Minister Paul Henderson yesterday welcomed the announcement.

He said he believed organised crime syndicates were running dope out to communities because they could make much higher profits than by selling in Darwin.

"I believe on advice that is the case -- the amount of money that people can make by selling dope into remote communities is significant,'' he said.

He said people were targeting communities with marijuana since alcohol bans had been introduced.

Darwin Dog Operations Unit Officer-in-Charge Senior Constable David Young said one-gram deal bags of cannabis were selling for $150 a pop in Numbulwar and $100 on Groote Eylandt.

"That's where all the money is, that's where the big dealers get their money's worth,'' he said.

While in Darwin, he said, one-gram bags went for $30.

The federal funding will set up two sniffer dogs and a substance abuse intelligence desk, modelled on an existing one at Alice Springs and Katherine.

This means the Territory will have three drugs desks -- the third based in Darwin -- and seven sniffer dogs, with the other four based in Alice Springs and Darwin.

Sen-Const Young said Darwin's canine cops had helped snare drugs "worth millions of dollars''.

He said that since 2004 the dogs have been involved in 825 seizures, which netted 40kg of cannabis, 5kg of ecstasy and 2kg of ice -- all destined for remote communities.

Mr Henderson said the additional dogs and drugs intelligence desk complemented Territory Government measures doubling the maximum penalty for trafficking drugs into communities.

He said the offence could attract a nine-year jail term.

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