Major kava seizure in remote community, two men charged

More than $15,400 in cash was also seized and two men, aged 28 and 35, were arrested following a police search of a property.

The pair have been charged with posing and supplying a commercial amount of kava and were remanded in custody after appearing at Darwin Local Court on Thursday.

Kava, an extract from the root of a pepper plant found on Pacific Islands, was introduced to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in northern Australia in the early 1980s as a substitute for alcohol.

It has traditionally been cultivated by Pacific Islanders for use as a social and ceremonial drink, either ground or chewed up and mixed with water or coconut milk.

The effects of kava include muscle relaxation, sleepiness and feelings of wellbeing.

The Department of Health's Office of Drug Control says on its website that incoming passengers can bring up to 4kg of kava powder into most of Australia for personal use, but this is not allowed in the Northern Territory.