This is a joint media release with Victoria Police and the Australian Federal Police
Vision is available here: https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/u4sXufHqjF
Echo Taskforce detectives and the Australian Federal Police have charged five men this week as part of a targeted investigation into drug trafficking linked to the Rebels Outlaw Motorcycle Gang (OMCG).
On Tuesday, 4 April AFP officers arrested a 26-year-old man, believed to be an associate of the Rebels OMCG, at an address in Mernda. During the warrant, officers seized more than $90,000 in cash and multiple mobile phones.
He was arrested and charged with the following offences:
- Procuring a child for trafficking controlled drugs contrary to subsection 309.8(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth);
- Trafficking a commercial quantity of a controlled drug contrary to section 302.2 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth); and
- Perverting the course of justice contrary to section 320 of the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic).
It is believed this is the first time the Commonwealth charge of procuring a child for trafficking controlled drugs has been used in Australia.
It will be alleged the Mernda man coerced his nephew, 14, into acting as a drug courier for the syndicate.
He is scheduled to appear in Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 8 August.
This then led to detectives from the Echo Taskforce, Illicit Firearms Squad, Gang Crime Squad, VIPER Taskforce and North West Metro Regional Crime Squad executing a series of warrants at eight residential addresses in Mernda, Flemington, West Melbourne (2), Essendon, Highett, Bundoora and North Melbourne as well as a business in Mernda
Three additional men were charged on Tuesday, including:
- A 47-year-old Essendon man, believed to be a former member of the Rebels OMCG, was charged with possess drug of dependence.
He was bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 23 June.
- A 28-year-old West Melbourne man was charged with possess drug of dependence, possess explosives and possess proceeds of crime.
He was bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 23 June.
- A 32-year-old West Melbourne man was charged with cultivate cannabis.
He was released and is expected to be charged on summons.
A 25-year-old Highett woman was released pending further enquiries.
Police subsequently seized approximately $90,000 cash, weapons and prescription medication from the Mernda address, approximately $20,000 cash, various drugs of dependence, prescription medication and fireworks from a West Melbourne address.
An imitation handgun, approximately 3.5 kilograms of what appears to be ketamine, and over 150 bottles of prescription medication were located at the Highett address, and a further 66 bottles of prescription medication at a Bundoora address.
Steroids were seized from an address in Essendon, and cannabis from another West Melbourne property.
An additional warrant was executed at a residential address in North Melbourne this morning (Thursday, 6 April).
A 27-year-old North Melbourne man was charged with two counts of traffick drug of dependence, possess drug of dependence and possess proceeds of crime.
He was bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 23 June.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with information about organised criminal or illicit drug activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
Quotes attributable to Detective Acting Superintendent Craig Darlow, State Anti-Gangs Division:
"Outlaw motorcycle gangs rely on criminal activities to fund their operations and they have no regard for the damage their drug dealing activities cause to our community.
"The collaborative effort with our partners agencies at both a state and federal level ensures we are able to relentlessly disrupt these gangs to minimise the harm caused by their criminal ventures.
"Our collective commitment to make Victoria safer and hold criminal groups to account is unwavering.
"This operation is an example of our willingness to share resources and capability to achieve our goal of making Victoria the most hostile environment possible for serious and organised crime groups to operate.
"Organised criminal groups such as the Rebels aren't a state-based problem, they remain a significant issue for law enforcement right across Australia and operations such as this one provide the ideal opportunity for us to work together to target their offending and also gather invaluable intelligence."
AFP Acting Detective Superintendent Glenn Tankard said organised criminals would try every avenue to profit off the high demand for illicit drugs in Australia - including exploiting children.
"Today's charges show the depths these gangs will stoop to peddle their misery," Acting Det-Supt Tankard said.
"Every cent that organised criminals gain from an illicit drug sale takes them one step closer to funding their next criminal venture.
"The AFP works closely with its law enforcement partners to identify and disrupt criminal groups to ensure they don't have the means to harm more Australians."
