A West Footscray man has been charged following his alleged links to an alleged international crime group conspiring to import tonnes of illicit drugs into Australia.
The Victorian Joint Organised Crime Taskforce (JOCTF) executed search warrants at residences in West Footscray and Flemington last week (28 May, 2026), as part of Operation Bruce Cremorne.
During these warrants, officers seized 2.15kg of heroin, 3.28kg of methamphetamine, approximately $80,000 AUD in cash and a cash counting machine.
The man, 36, was arrested at a West Footscray residence, and has been charged with:
- 2 x traffick large commercial quantity of a drug of dependence, contrary to Section 71 of the Drugs, Poison and Controlled Substances Act 1981 (Vic.) which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
- 2 x traffick commercial quantity of a drug of dependence, contrary to Section 71AA of the Drugs, Poison and Controlled Substances Act 1981 (Vic.) which carries a maximum penalty of 25 years imprisonment.
- 1 x possessing a drug of dependence, contrary to Section 73 of the Drugs, Poison and Controlled Substances Act 1981 (Vic.) which carries a maximum penalty of 5 years imprisonment.
The man was remanded and is due to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates Court on 18 September, 2026.
Operation Bruce Cremorne is a year-long JOCTF investigation involving the AFP, Victoria Police, Australian Border Force (ABF) and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), into a syndicate accused of seeking to import illicit drugs from a commercial vessel passing through the Bass Strait. The investigation also identified high level domestic trafficking of illicit drugs.
Nine people aged between 31 and 72 were arrested in April, 2026 as part of the ongoing operation.
AFP Detective Superintendent Ray Imbriano said the arrest was the result of a long-running, intelligence-led investigation which targeted this syndicate.
"These coordinated efforts demonstrate the ongoing commitment of the JOCTF to disrupt organised crime groups who attempt to traffick illicit drugs in Australia," Det Supt Imbriano said.
"The AFP, along with our law enforcement partners, continue to prioritise the safety of Australians by relentlessly targeting criminal networks that seek to flout our laws and profit from the misery these illicit substances cause within the community."
Victoria Police Detective Detective Superintendent Dave Cowan said: "We are concerned with the appetite for illegal drugs in Australia. We are an attractive location for organised crime syndicates".
"The damage caused by the use of illicit substances ripples throughout the community, and it does not just affect those using the drug. There have been many lives forever changed and ruined simply by their sheer misfortune of encountering someone who chose to take an illegal substance," Det Supt Cowan said.
"Victoria Police, alongside our law enforcement and intelligence partners, will be relentless in targeting the highest-level organised crime groups trafficking, importing and distributing illicit drugs in the community."
ABF Acting Superintendent Peter Alderson said the ABF works closely with its counterparts to disrupt criminal activity and keep the border secure.
"In the fight against serious organised crime, we continue to work side by side with our law enforcement partners to have maximum impact on the illicit drug trade," Acting Superintendent Alderson said.
"We value the strong relationship with our JOCTF partners, including through joint cooperation and intelligence gathering, and shared operational successes which protect our community and hold those accountable for their crimes."
