Detectives from the Clandestine Laboratory Squad have extradited the alleged ringleader of an organised crime drug syndicate from the Northern Territory overnight as part of a three-year investigation into the illicit drug trade.
With assistance from Northern Territory Police Force, the 55-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday 4 November, before he was extradited back to Melbourne yesterday afternoon.
He was interviewed and subsequently charged this morning with traffick large commercial quantity MDMA and conspiracy to traffick large commercial quantity methylamphetamine.
The man will appear at Melbourne Magistrates' Court today.
Police will allege the man became aware of the investigation into the syndicate, fleeing the jurisdiction in August before he was located in the Northern Territory under a false name.
Investigators will allege the syndicate, directed by a ringleader, was importing precursor chemicals and then manufacturing, trafficking and distributing the large commercial quantities of methylamphetamine, P2P and MDMA throughout the country.
Over the course of three years, investigators charged seven people, seized multi million dollars' worth of drugs, executed approximately 15 search warrants and dismantled three large scale clandestine laboratories.
The initial shipment, detected by the Australian Border Force in November 2022, was disguised as a chemical imported to make perfume in Melbourne.
Those charged include:
- A 46-year-old Coburg North man was charged on 15 February, 2024 with possess large commercial quantity drug of dependence. A large scale clandestine laboratory was located at his address, including 11.8kg of methylamphetamine and 71kg of precursor chemicals.
An account located in the man's name containing $5M was frozen.
- A 54-year-old Pascoe Vale man was charged on 18 April, 2024 with trafficking commercial quantities of amphetamine and methylamphetamine. A clandestine laboratory was located at the address, and 2kg of methylamphetamine and precursor chemicals were seized.
- A 45-year-old man from Queensland was arrested on 24 June, 2024. He was extradited back to Queensland by Queensland Police Service.
- A 37-year-old Maribyrnong man was arrested 27 June, 2024. He was charged with possess commercial quantity methylamphetamine. Commercial quantities of methylamphetamine, cocaine and precursor chemicals were seized.
- A 45-year-old Newport man was arrested on 21 August, 2024 attempting to board the Spirit of Tasmania with six kilograms of pure MDMA hidden in sleeping bags in a suitcase. He was charged with traffick large commercial quantity of MDMA.
- A 27-year-old Monegeetta man was arrested on 17 October, 2024. He was charged with possess article to manufacture, traffick/possess drug of dependence (cannabis), handle stolen goods and possess prohibited weapons.
Police located an industrial sized clandestine laboratory, seven secured firearms, a gel blaster, an unsecured loaded shotgun, ammunition, nun-chukkas, two Samurai swords, three imitation handguns and further assorted knives and swords, cash and varying quantities of drugs inside the address.
Thirteen previously stolen Holden vehicles were also located worth in excess of $1M, suspected of being part of a car rebirthing ring.
- A search warrant was executed at a rural property in Serviceton on 29 October, 2024, where police located in excess of 40 tonnes of precursor chemicals with an estimated street value of over $2.5 billion worth of methylamphetamine.
Since the investigation began, investigators have seized:
- Over 40 tonnes of precursor chemicals which would have produced close to 20 tonnes of methylamphetamine with an estimated street value of over $2.5 billion dollars' worth of methylamphetamine
- Over 60 kg of P2P valued at $1.2 million
- Over 20kg of methylamphetamine valued at $ 2.5 million
- Six kg of pure MDMA valued between $720,000 - $1.2 million
Detectives also dismantled three large scale clandestine laboratories in Coburg North, Pascoe Vale and Monegeetta.
Anyone with information on illicit drug activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit an anonymous report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
Quotes attributable to Detective Acting Superintendent Matt Kroenert, Organised Crime Division:
"This is an incredibly satisfying result for Victoria Police - working with our federal and state law enforcement partners we have completely dismantled this highly organised syndicate and shutdown their business.
"Over the course of a through and protracted investigation, we have removed their illicit drugs, their weapons, their cash and their workforce and the harm it is able to cause to our community.
"These results should serve as a warning to criminal groups that no matter where you are in the chain and no matter how long it takes to locate you; we do not give up - we will continue to target you, and we fill find you."
