Arabic version: رفض الإفراج بكفالة عن رجلين في داروين على خلفية مشروع مزعوم للاتجار بالمخدرات
According to ABC News, Andrew Washington, 26, and Jossire Nditije, 26, have been denied bail over their alleged roles in an interstate drug trafficking enterprise. Both men face Darwin Local Court charges involving the possession and supply of commercial quantities of methamphetamine, ketamine, cocaine and cannabis, and are expected to return to court next month.
The court heard the pair were allegedly integral to a drug ring with interstate ties that, at the height of its trade, handled more than $1.5 million in cash. Prosecutor Sean Nottle said Mr Washington’s charges might not “scratch the surface” of alleged offending over a period of years. Mr Washington was re-arrested on more serious charges after police allegedly identified his role at the “apex” of the ring.
Police had accessed group-chat messages in which Mr Washington, Mr Nditije and others allegedly used codenames including Duke Dingbat, Hot Plate and Bush Jesus. The court heard attribution of the handles and devices remained ongoing. Police were also continuing to examine messages from 2024 and 2025, including 90 pages sent during the month five clothes dryers were allegedly transported into the Northern Territory.
Prosecutors alleged the dryers contained 3 kilograms of methamphetamine, 2 kilograms of ketamine, 394 grams of cocaine and more than 9 kilograms of cannabis. Mr Nottle told the court the chats included photos, messages and alleged expressions that the group had found a truck, dismantled the dryers and sent photos of what was recovered.
Judge David Woodroffe refused Mr Washington bail, citing the significance of the allegations. Chief Judge Elizabeth Morris had earlier refused Mr Nditije bail, finding the risk that he would abscond, commit further offences or interfere with the police investigation was too great. She rejected a proposed 24-hour curfew, a $10,000 bond from his mother and police access to his devices as measures to reduce the risk.
