SEVENTEEN people have been arrested in a joint police operation that has resulted in the seizure and destruction of almost 500 litres of alcohol believed to be destined for dry NT indigenous communities.

The arrests preceded a police announcement on Friday of an all out blitz on the Territory’s rural and remote regions tackling poor driving behaviour, led by units conducting traffic patrols and RBTs in Katherine, Elliott and at various points on the Victoria and Stuart Highways to Mataranka and Tennant Creek.

The 17 arrests were the result of a separate action by the Central Substance Abuse Intelligence Desk (CSAID) and Central Traffic Operations and Dog Operations Unit.

Acting Superintendent of the Katherine Division Mark Malogorski said over three days, from August 23-25 police and drug detection dogs made 17 arrests and issued nine summonses for offences on the Victoria and Stuart Highways in Katherine.

Police also issued 57 traffic infringement notices.

Seven were for driving with a prohibited drug in their body and three for low range drink driving.

Twenty-six liquor infringement notices, seven drug infringement notices and defected six cars notices were also issued.

“To have apprehended this amount of alcohol and drug affected drivers on our roads in only three days is appalling,” Acting Supt Malogorski said.

“Police were disappointed to discover a three-litre bottle of Jack Daniels, a bottle of Hennessy and a bucket of premixed shots purchased by a father instead of purchasing a capsule for his six-day-old child who was travelling in the vehicle he was driving.

“People who continue to drink, or take illicit substances and drive on the road, putting innocent people’s lives at risk, need to have a good hard look at themselves.

“Some of the cases included a man, 33, charged with drink driving after being involved in a pursuit with police, who blew 0.208 A woman, 24, charged with drink driving, drive unlicensed and drive with child unrestrained, blew 0.164.

“A man, 39, was charged with drive with prohibited drug in his blood and drive without L plates after testing positive to methamphetamine.”