Detectives from the Mill Park Divisional Response Unit (DRU) have dismantled an alleged organised crime syndicate that police believe were responsible for trafficking large quantities of methylamphetamine and heroin.
A six-month long investigation culminated across Sunday 15 January and Monday 16 January, when members from the Mill Park Divisional Response Unit, VIPER Taskforce, North West Metro Crime Squad, Melbourne Divisional Response Unit, Springvale Divisional Response Unit, and Critical Incident Response Unit, executed seven search warrants across Melbourne.
Four men were arrested and remanded as a result, including three now facing serious drug offences, ranging from trafficking a large commercial quantity of methylamphetamine to trafficking methylamphetamine. The maximum penalty for trafficking a large commercial quantity of drugs is life imprisonment.
Police seized almost $275,000 worth of methylamphetamine, heroin and 1,4 Butanediol; five firearms including semi-automatic handguns and a silencer; 13 weapons, including knives, tasers and knuckle dusters; and proceeds of crime totalling well over $750,000, including $350,000 cash, and a swathe of luxury watches, gold rings, designer handbags, and gold bullion.
A full summary of the items seize during the warrants is below:
• 960 grams of methylamphetamine, valued at approximately $192,000.
• 139 grams of heroin, valued at approximately $55,600.
• More than nine litres of GHB, valued at approximately $27,000.
• 29 ecstasy tablets, valued at approximately $450.
• 16 grams of cannabis, valued at approximately $320.
• Five firearms, including two semi-automatic handguns, one revolver, one sawn-off rifle and one imitation firearm. One handgun silencer was also seized.
• 13 weapons, including four tasers, two extendable batons, two OC sprays, two sets of knuckle dusters, two knives, and one slingshot.
• Significant quantities of ammunition, including for handguns and pistols.
• $354,300 in cash, which police will allege is a proceed of crime.
• Other alleged proceeds of crime including eight pure gold rings, seven luxury watches valued at approximately $345,000, several luxury handbags valued at approximately $30,000, and eight ounces of gold bullion valued at approximately $22,000.
• Five bank cheques valued at approximately $9,500.
Four men were arrested as a result of the warrants, including:
• A 35-year-old man from Brunswick, who police will allege was the leader of the syndicate. He was charged with traffick large commercial quantity of methylamphetamine, traffick commercial quantity of heroin, traffick commercial quantity of 1,4 Butanediol, firearms offences and possessing the proceeds of crime. He was remanded to appear before the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 17 April 2023.
• A 34-year-old man from Fitzroy was charged and remanded for trafficking a commercial quantity of methylamphetamine, weapons offences, and possessing proceeds of crime. He will appear before Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 17 January 2023.
• A 50-year-old man from Springvale was charged and remanded for trafficking methylamphetamine, weapons offences, and handling stolen goods. He will appear before Dandenong Magistrates' Court on 31 January 2023.
• A 32-year-old man from Preston was charged and remanded with possess 1-4 Butanediol and possessing the proceeds of crime. He will appear before Heidelberg Magistrates' Court on 17 January 2023.
Quotes attributed to Mill Park Divisional Response Unit, Senior Constable Matt Reynolds
"Local police continue to share intelligence with our counterparts in other regions and at Crime Command to cripple organised crime entities determined to line their pockets through illicit means and ultimately, to the severe detriment of the rest of the community."
Joel Dwyer
