Police have arrested 19 people and seized multiple firearms and drugs in a week-long operation targeting firearms, drugs, and persons of interest across the Shepparton and Mitchell areas.
As part of the operation, detectives from Shepparton and Mitchell were supported by specialist police from Crime Command's VIPER Taskforce, Dog Squad and Air Wing.
Police conducted 11 Firearm Prohibition Orders (FPO) searches and 12 search warrants between 24 and 28 April.
Throughout the operation, police allegedly seized:
• Two firearms
• Two imitation firearms
• Drugs including cannabis, GHB and methylamphetamine
• Two stolen motorcycles
• Over $25,000 cash
Among those arrested were:
• A 20-year-old Shepparton man was arrested and charged after VIPER Taskforce and Shepparton CIU detectives located a .22 firearm, imitation firearm, prohibited weapons, and various amounts of cannabis. He was charged with dealing property suspected of being proceeds of crime, possess cat A/B longarm without licence, possess ammunition, possess prohibited weapons, trafficking cannabis, possessing prescription drugs without authority. He was bailed to appear at Shepparton Magistrates Court on 18 August 2023.
As part of the operation, members from State Highway Patrol also targeted road safety across Shepparton and Mitchell.
This led to over 35 traffic offences detected, three vehicles impounded, eight drug drivers and one driver over the alcohol limit.
