Geelong police have arrested three men over the past month in connection to an alleged local firearm and drug trafficking ring.
The long running investigation has led to the seizure of 13 illicit firearms, more than 25 litres of 1'4 Butanediol with a street value of around $75,000, and 235 grams of methylamphetamine with a street value of approximately $41,000.
As part of the investigation, detectives from the Geelong Tasking and Crime Investigation Team and Geelong Crime Investigation Unit, with support from the Special Operations Group, Critical Incident Response Team, and the State Surveillance Unit, executed two search warrants in Armstrong Creek and Mount Duneed on Monday 27 June.
Police seized eight firearms from the Armstrong Creek property, including long arm shot guns, bolt action rifles and a sawn-off shotgun. Ammunition, a small quantity of methylamphetamine and cannabis, and equipment police will allege was used for making false number plates were also seized.
A 33-year-old male from Armstrong Creek has been charged with trafficking a drug of dependence and bailed to appear before Geelong Magistrates Court on 6 September.
During the second warrant in Mount Duneed, police seized three firearms, including a loaded handgun and sawn-off shotgun, as well as other firearm parts, three ounces of methylamphetamine worth around $11,000, and $2,600 in cash.
A 27-year-old Mount Duneed man has been charged with trafficking firearms, trafficking drugs, and other related offences. He has been remanded to appear before Geelong Magistrates Court on 26 July.
Earlier in the month, police executed a search warrant at a Moolap address on 1 June in relation to the same investigation, seizing more than 25 litres of 1'4 Butanediol with a street value of around $75,000, 150 grams of methylamphetamine worth approximately $30,000, two firearms and $110,000 in cash.
A 29-year-old Moolap male was arrested and charged with trafficking a drug of dependence. He was bailed to appear before Geelong Magistrates Court on 16 September.
Quotes attributed to Geelong Crime Investigation Unit Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Guthrie
"There is no doubt arrests such as these have a dramatic impact in relation to enhancing overall community safety across the Geelong region.
"Firearm related violence has absolutely no place in Victoria, and police will stop at nothing to take firearms off our streets and keep the community safe.
"Illicit substances, such as methamphetamine, create insidious ripple effects throughout the community in the form of violent crimes committed to feed an addiction, trauma on our roads, and domestic abuse behind closed doors.
"If you choose to peddle firearms or drugs and bring harm to others, there is nothing but dire consequences waiting for you."
Joel Dwyer
