Second man charged over Northern Territory’s largest ketamine importation

08 September 2025, 12:18pm

Media Release

Second man charged over Northern Territory’s largest ketamine importation

Editor’s note: Arrest vision available via Hightail

This is a joint media release between the Australian Federal Police, Northern Territory Police, Australian Border Force and Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission

A Darwin man is the second person to be charged over the alleged importation of 4kg of ketamine, the Northern Territory’s largest seizure of the illicit substance.

The man, 23, was arrested on 5 September, 2025 and is expected to face Darwin Local Court today (8 September, 2025).

A Northern Territory Joint Organised Crime Taskforce (NT JOCTF) investigation began in April, 2025, when Australian Border Force (ABF) officers at Sydney Airport suspected a consignment that arrived on a flight from Germany contained ketamine.

Investigations resulted in the arrest of a 32-year-old Zuccoli man. He appeared in Darwin Local Court on 24 April, 2025 and is due to reappear in court on 16 September, 2025.

Further investigations by NT JOCFT - comprising members of the AFP, Northern Territory Police, ABF and Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission - linked the 23-year-old to the alleged illegal activity and executed a search warrant at his Zuccoli home on 5 September, 2025, where electronic devices, including a mobile phone, were seized.

Forensic examination of the devices allegedly found messages from the man about planned delivery of the illicit substance via Australia’s parcel post system.

It will be alleged the man assisted a criminal syndicate to import the 4kg of ketamine, which has an estimated street value of $800,000.

He was charged with one count of aided, abetted, counselled or procured the commission of an offence by the principal offender against subsection 307.1 (1) of the Criminal Code, imported a substance, the substance being a border controlled drug, namely ketamine, and the quantity imported being a commercial quantity, contrary to sub-sections 11.2 (1) and 307.1 (1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).

The maximum penalty for this offence is life imprisonment.

AFP Superintendent Greg Davis said the strength of the AFP’s cooperation with its law enforcement partners demonstrated their shared commitment to ensuring Australia remained a hostile environment for criminal syndicates.

“Ketamine, specifically, is a dangerous sedative; its dissociative effects block sensory brain signals and can cause memory loss, feelings of being detached from one’s body and the inability to perceive dangers,” Supt Davis said.

“These illicit substances destroy communities, families and lives. The AFP and its partners remain focused on preventing any form of drug entering the Australian community and causing widespread harm.”

Northern Territory Police Detective Acting Superintendent David Richardson said the Northern Territory Police Force is committed to protecting the community from the devastating impacts of dangerous drugs.

“We will continue to work with our partners to target the organised criminal groups behind them,” Det a/Supt Richardson said.

Australian Border Force Superintendent Alex Kelsall said ketamine is a border-controlled drug that has no place in the Australian community.

“Through intelligence-led targeting and the ongoing vigilance of our officers, we are sending a message to criminals who seek to introduce illicit substances into Australia with no regard for the devastating impacts on families and the broader community,” Supt Kelsall said.

Note to media: 

Media are encouraged to include help-seeking information in stories about illicit drugs to minimise any negative impact on people in the community. The following services provide people with access to support and information. 