POLICE have destroyed nearly 100 litres of beer earmarked for dry indigenous communities in the region following a roadside arrest on the Roper Highway on January 29.
Two officers from Mataranka spotted the “suspicious vehicle” approaching them – which failed to stop – before it slowed and pulled up on the highway a short time later.
Of the seven males in the vehicle, only one was sober, with police stating the driver was the “most intoxicated” of the group before he was subsequently arrested.
During the interception, the officers noticed a large quantity of beer in the vehicle, with all of the males admitting they were travelling to Jilkminggan.
Ninety-nine litres of beer was seized and destroyed as a result of a search of the vehicle, with the sober passenger – who was also the only one with a licence – allowed to drive it away.
The original driver of the vehicle produced a high-range blood alcohol content reading of 0.174% and was issued with a notice to appear in court for drink-driving and driving while disqualified.
Originally published as Driver ‘most intoxicated’ in booze bust by Katherine Times.
