Northern Territory police have arrested and charged a 71-year-old man with allegedly stealing about 1,200 head of cattle valued at nearly $1.5 million.
The arrest, which took place on Wednesday during an early morning raid on a property on the Sturt Plateau, south of Katherine, was the result of a 10-month investigation by Taskforce Starlight.
Police first attended the property in June 2021 after a neighbour conducted a consensual muster of the station to recover 435 of their stolen cattle.
DNA evidence collected by police has since confirmed 658 cattle on the property are the progeny of the original 435 head.
Police believe a number of weaners on the station are the third generation offspring of the original stolen cattle, some of which have been sold to other stations.
Police allege more than 1,200 head of cattle in total were stolen, with an estimated value of $1.47 million.
Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Lawson said the cattle were likely stolen over a number of years.
"I believe the industry call it 'sweating calves' — where calves from [neighbouring] properties are branded with their own brand and they may return the cows but keep the calves for themselves," he said.
"That's what was [allegedly] occurring [at this property], but he has kept the cows for a number of years and profited off the progeny."
Detective Senior Sergeant Lawson told ABC Rural police were conducting a muster of the entire property using officers with experience in the cattle industry and contract heli-musterers.
"That could take up to 10 to 14 days — we are trying to locate all the stolen cattle, and also ascertaining if there are any more offences that have occurred," he said.
The man has been charged with one count of stealing and two counts of criminal deception.
He has been granted bail and is due to face Katherine Local Court on June 6, with further charges expected as a result of the muster.
Stamp it out: NTCA
Taskforce Starlight came about after years of lobbying by the NT Cattlemen's Association (NTCA) for a dedicated stock-squad in NT Police.
NTCA chief executive Will Evans said "stock theft is a crime all Australians should take seriously".
"Beef is food and Australia has the gold standard for lifetime traceability for cattle anywhere in the world," Mr Evans said.
"In an age when biosecurity and food safety could not be more important, crimes like stock theft need to be consigned to the history books and stamped out completely."
